Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Many Keys, One Conversation: Schizophrenia, Neuroscience and Creativity

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 5:30pm to 8:30pm
The James Theater

This event brings together storytelling, dance, science, and dialogue to destigmatize schizophrenia and mental illness. Through personal narratives, artistic expression, cutting-edge research, and expert insight, attendees will discover the power of vulnerability, resilience, and community support in mental health. When we share our stories, we heal together

5:30–6 p.m. | Reception with Hors d'oeuvres & Poster Session
6–6:15 p.m. | Michael Judge: A Brother's Perspective
6:15–6:45 p.m. | Margalea...

Sterling HolyWhiteMountain: Reading & Q&A

Thursday, March 12, 2026 8:00pm to 9:00pm
Dey House

Sterling HolyWhiteMountain grew up on the Blackfeet Reservation. He holds a BA in English creative writing from the University of Montana and an MFA in fiction from the University of Iowa. He was a James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow at the University of Wisconsin and a Stegner fellow at Stanford University. His work has appeared in volumes 1 and 2 of Off the Path: An Anthology of 21st Century American Indian and Indigenous Writers, Montana Quarterly, ESPN.com., The Yellow Medicine Review and The...

Application Deadline: Obermann End-of-Year Writing Retreat promotional image

Application Deadline: Obermann End-of-Year Writing Retreat

Friday, March 13, 2026 5:00pm
North Ridge Pavilion
Space, time, & collegial support for academic writing
Poetry WorkShop at Harlan, IA Community Library- The Invisible Poem: Hajri Aga and william o'neal ii promotional image

Poetry WorkShop at Harlan, IA Community Library- The Invisible Poem: Hajri Aga and william o'neal ii

Saturday, March 14, 2026 11:00am to 1:00pm
Harlan Community Library

Free Event - 16 & Up featuring Writers' Workshop students Hajri Aga and william o'neal ii -- Poetry Readings, Discussions, Create New Poetry, or Bring Your Own Poetry Projects. A light lunch will be served for participants. "The mission of the Harlan Community Library is to provide a welcoming place to promote the love of reading and the joy of learning to the community." Library resources and services include a multitude of viewpoints. The library does not endorse any single position or opinion...

Write at the Stanley: A Generative Writing Workshop promotional image

Write at the Stanley: A Generative Writing Workshop

Sunday, March 22, 2026 2:30pm to 4:15pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Join us monthly to generate new creative writing inspired by works in the Stanley collection. Each session will be led by a different talented writer from our area, who will be offering a new prompt and a new approach to ekphrastic writing (writing inspired by visual art). Bring your own notebook and pencil or computer and leave with the beginning of a newly written piece.

Co-sponsored by Iowa City Poetry. Teen and adult writers in all genres are welcome.

Write at the Stanley meets every fourth...

Live from Prairie Lights | Benjamin Hale in conversation with Bennett Sims - 'Cave Mountain' promotional image

Live from Prairie Lights | Benjamin Hale in conversation with Bennett Sims - 'Cave Mountain'

Monday, March 23, 2026 7:00pm
Prairie Lights Books

Benjamin Hale will read from his new book, Cave Mountain: A Disappearance and a Reckoning in the Ozarks, and will be joined in conversation with University of Iowa Associate Professor, Bennett Sims. Praised by Patton Oswalt as "The damndest mixing of true crime, memoir, and maybe (?) ghost story I’ve ever read," Cave Mountain tells the true story of how Hale's cousin, Haley, disappeared in a mountain trail in the Ozarks when she was only 6 years old in 2001. After Haley was found, she spoke of...

Just recently...

Art & Write Night promotional image

Art & Write Night

Friday, March 6, 2026 6:00pm to 8:00pm
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History

Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces.

Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists.

Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session and...

Elizabeth McCracken: Reading promotional image

Elizabeth McCracken: Reading

Thursday, March 5, 2026 8:00pm to 9:00pm
Glenn Schaeffer Library

Elizabeth McCracken is the author of nine books: Here’s Your Hat What’s Your Hurry, The Giant’s House, Niagara Falls All Over Again, An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination, Thunderstruck & Other Stories, Bowlaway, The Souvenir Museum, The Hero of This Book, and A Long Game: Notes on Writing Fiction. She’s received grants and fellowships from United States Artists, the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Liguria Study Center, the American Academy in Berlin...

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