• A Night with Ana Castillo

    Asmus/Hilton Gallery (Morgan Arts Complex, Bridgeport) 3622 S. Morgan St., Chicago, Illinois, United States

    In partnership with Hilton/Asmus Galleries, the Guild Complex will host a special reading with Ana Castillo from her new book, Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home. Joining her will be special guest,...

    Free
  • “Black Fire: This Time” | A Reading

    Blanc Gallery 4445 South King Drive, Chicago, Illinois

    Black Fire: This Time, Volume 1 from Willow Books (a division of Aquarius Press) celebrates the roots and legacy of the Black Arts Movement featuring the works of over 100 poets...

    Free
  • Palabra Pura: One Poet, One Poem

    La Bruquena Restaurant 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

    Palabra Pura is back! Come join us with a poem or your favorite text for a community reading in English and Spanish, featuring guest host Crystal Vance-Guerra! Have a drink,...

    Free
  • Exhibit B @ Comfort Station | Social Justice Festival

    Comfort Station/Logan Square Park 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Illinois

    Exhibit B, Comfort Station, and the Guild Literary Complex are coming together to host a free outdoor festival in the heart of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. This special event will...

    Free
  • Exhibit B @ Printers Row Lit Fest

    Printers' Row Lit Fest - 731 S. Plymouth Ct. 731 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago, Illinois

    Exhibit B will be back at Printers Row Lit Fest! Faylita Hicks, Daniel Borzutzky, Nakiyah T.M. Jordan, and Exhibit B's very own, James Stewart III, are going to bring it!...

    Free
  • Going the Distance: A Printers Row Reading with Ana Castillo + Reginald Gibbons

    Printers' Row Lit Fest - Feinberg Foundation Stage Chicago, Illinois

    Two writers—Ana Castillo, Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home and Reginald Gibbons, Sweetbitter—read from their latest work and talk about finding longevity in creative writing and the arts. Conversation moderated by Richard...

    Free
  • A Literary Mash Up at Printers Row Lit Fest

    Come to the Printers Row Lit Fest's Center Stage for a joint reading presented by the Guild Literary Complex, Hypertext, and RHINO Poetry, with two readers each from Chicago's three long-standing literary institutions. Featured readers include:Cheryl Dyer (emerging writer)Nazifa Islam (Forlorn Light – Shearsman 2021)Sahar Mustafah (The Beauty of Your Face – W.W. Norton &...

    Free
  • 2023 | Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards

    The Den Theatre 1331 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL

    Congratulations to the 2023 GBOMA winner: Myron Stokes! Come out and support the 2023 finalists for the Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA) as they perform their works live! GET TICKETS NOW 2023 finalists: Fadia AntabliJóse Bono RovirosaJanet BurrowayMars CaultonMorgan EklundKat FreezeAllison JosephKhloe KammerzellChuck KramerRobert LawrenceIrene MartinezMiguel MarzanaDavid MathewsFrancesca MoroneyHilesh PatelTimothy David ReyMyron StokesKira TuckerCrystal Vance...

    $12
  • Generative Multilogue: Artful Protest

    South Asia Institute 1925 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois

    Creative Iranian Women Digital Projection and Immersive Experience Invited Artists: Shaghayegh Mohajeri, Alemeh Bagherian, Hedie Javani, Saba Soleimani, Pouye Peyman, Sara Rahanjam Opening reception with musical performances and poetry recitation.

    $55
  • Lit & Luz Festival | 10th Anniversary Celebration

    This year’s theme is “TEN,” –celebrating 10 years of remarkable programming. This October, join us for more than a dozen bilingual programs throughout Chicago. This year’s festival kicks off on October 13th with an exhibition of work from Lit & Luz Collaboration Cohort artists from the past decade at Chicago Art Department and closes on...

    Free
  • 30th Anniversary of Always Running with Luis Rodriguez

    Chicago History Museum 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, Illinois

    In collaboration with the Chicago History Museum, The Guild Complex celebrates 30 years of AlwaysRunning—the debut novel by author, poet, and founder/publisher of Tia Chucha Press, Luis J Rodriguez. There will be some special performances followed by a special reading with Luis Rodriguez along with an interview and discussion with Hector Chavez, PhD, Loyola University...

  • Chile—50 Years of Protest and Change: A Reading and Discussion with Kathleen Osberger

    Haymarket House 800 W. Buena Ave., Chicago, Illinois

    Author, Kathy Osberger will read from her new book I Surrender: A Memoir of Chile's Dictatorship, 1975, which chronicles her experiences in Chile two years into the violent authoritarian reign of General Pinochet. A discussion, with the author, on the political situation in Chile today will immediately follow featuring Mario Venegas (human rights activist and torture survivor from...

  • Exhibit B | A Literary Variety Show

    Pilsen Community Books 1102 W 18th St., Chicago, Illinois, United States

    Exhibit B's November reading at Pilsen Community Books will feature poetry, prose, and a piano as authors Willie Lin, S.L. Wisenberg, and Michael Dean, will be joined by pianist Marissa Kerbel for a special evening. 

    Free
  • An Evening w/ Kathleen Rooney & Jeremy T. Wilson

    Pilsen Community Books 1102 W 18th St., Chicago, Illinois, United States

    Join us for an evening with two Chicago novelists to celebrate the release of From Dust to Stardust by Kathleen Rooney and The Quail Who Wears the Shirt by Jeremy T. Wilson! Kathleen Rooney is a founding editor of Rose Metal Press, and a founding member of Poems While You Wait. Her latest poetry collection, Where Are...

    Free
  • Palabra Pura: Marc Zimmerman Carlos Cumpian Book Launch + Open Mic

    18th Street Casa de Cultura 2057 West 18th Street, Chicago, IL, United States

    LACASA Chicago, Movimento Artístico Chicano (MARCH), 18th Street Casa de Cultura & Guild Literary Complex Invite you to Marc Zimmerman’s Pre-85th Birthday Book Launch of his most important Chicago Latino...

    Free
  • Guild Complex Holiday Mixer

    Epiphany Center for the Arts 201 South Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Join the Guild Complex for a holiday mixer on Thursday, December 14th (6-7:30pm) at the Epiphany Center for the Arts' Golden Hour! Featuring a special artist chat, live music by Bear Williams, happy hour food and beverages, and the first 50 guests get their first drink for free!

    Free
  • AWP | Poets for the People: KC All Stars Open Mic hosted by Brandon “Amayzn” Nelson

    Black Archives Of Mid-America 1722 E 17th Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri

    In collaboration with the Guild Literary Complex, Cave Canem, and the BLK+BRWN Bookstore, Exhibit B is hosting a series of literary events, free and open to the public, at the Black Archives of Mid-America which will center Black artists and allies. These events complement the AWP conference. This program is made possible by the support...

    Free
  • AWP | Poets for the People: Opening Reading with Patricia Smith, Roger Reeves, Dr. Taylor Byas, jason b. crawford, and Niki Herd

    Black Archives Of Mid-America 1722 E 17th Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri

    In collaboration with the Guild Literary Complex, Cave Canem, and the BLK+BRWN Bookstore, Exhibit B is hosting a series of literary events, free and open to the public, at the Black Archives of Mid-America which will center Black artists and allies. These events complement the AWP conference. This program is made possible by the support...

    Free
  • AWP | Poets for the People: In Conversation with J. Howard Rosier

    Black Archives Of Mid-America 1722 E 17th Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri

    In collaboration with the Guild Literary Complex, Cave Canem, and the BLK+BRWN Bookstore, Exhibit B is hosting a series of literary events, free and open to the public, at the Black Archives of Mid-America which will center Black artists and allies. These events complement the AWP conference. This program is made possible by the support...

    Free
  • AWP | Poets for the People: Reading with Brittany Rogers, Bernardo Wade, India Lena Gonzalez, and Kenyatta Rogers

    Black Archives Of Mid-America 1722 E 17th Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri

    In collaboration with the Guild Literary Complex, Cave Canem, and the BLK+BRWN Bookstore, Exhibit B is hosting a series of literary events, free and open to the public, at the Black Archives of Mid-America which will center Black artists and allies. These events complement the AWP conference. This program is made possible by the support...

    Free
  • AWP | Poets for the People: Killing the Negative: Book Talk & Reading with Quraysh Ali Lansana, Moheb Soliman, and Joel Daniel

    Black Archives Of Mid-America 1722 E 17th Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri

    In collaboration with the Guild Literary Complex, Cave Canem, and the BLK+BRWN Bookstore, Exhibit B is hosting a series of literary events, free and open to the public, at the Black Archives of Mid-America which will center Black artists and allies. These events complement the AWP conference. This program is made possible by the support...

    Free
  • AWP | Poets for the People: Closing Reading with m. mick powell, Grayson Thompson, and Donika Kelly

    Black Archives Of Mid-America 1722 E 17th Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri

    In collaboration with the Guild Literary Complex, Cave Canem, and the BLK+BRWN Bookstore, Exhibit B is hosting a series of literary events, free and open to the public, at the Black Archives of Mid-America which will center Black artists and allies. These events complement the AWP conference. This program is made possible by the support...

    Free
  • Exhibit B: Reading with Juan Martinez, Charif Shanahan, Helene Alchanzar, S Yarberry

    Pilsen Community Books 1102 W 18th St., Chicago, Illinois, United States

    Exhibit B is back home from AWP and once again bringing the show to our favorite bookstore in the city, Pilsen Community Books! On Thursday, Feb. 29th, join us as we bring together another incredible lineup featuring Charif Shanahan, Helene Achanzar, S. Yarberry, and Juan Martinez!

    Free
  • Worlds End… Worlds Begin

    Steppenwolf 1700 Theatre 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago, Illinois, United States

    Friday, 3/1: 8pm | Saturday, 3/2: 8pm An evening of multimedia performances hosted by spoken-word artist Kao Ra Zen that take you on a journey through worlds and words, dimensions and dances, multiverses and music. Featuring performances by:Spoken word poet, rapper, performance artist and director, Kao Ra ZenBelly dance/"raqs sharqi" troupe, Il Worood Il Beledi with choreography by Phaedra DarwishChicago Mask Ensemble led by Marianna BuchwaldDancer Allen...

    $20