WRITE OUT LOUD In association with the San Diego Public Library
Announces NEA Big Read Free Launch Event
Mythologica Readings, Performances and Book Giveaway!
October 17th 6:00 pm
Neil Morgan Auditorium 330 Park Blvd, SD 92101
Renew your relationship with Mythology and help us kick off our NEA Big Read Program for 2024!
Press Contact: Susan Clausen * 619-933-0038 * theatersusan@gmail.com * writeoutloudsd.com
October 6th, 2023—San Diego—Write Out Loud is thrilled to share the launch event to kick off the National Endowment for the Arts BIG READ in San Diego for 2023/24! Through this program, San Diego will Read and Celebrate the novel CIRCE by Madeleine Miller. The FREE launch event will take place at the San Diego Public Library in the Neil Morgan Auditorium on October 17th at 6:00 pm. Attendees will enjoy readings of excerpts from CIRCE, a satirical performance of Pyramus and Thisbe, the announcement of a “myth” writing contest and free books for the first 20 registered attendees. https://writeoutloud.ticketspice.com/neabigread
Focusing on the novel CIRCE by Madeleine Miller, this program will impact 4,500+ San Diegans. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience.
NEA Big Read activities with San Diego students have begun and community wide events will take place through the month of April 2024, including a student awards presentation of THE NEA BIG READ – Read Imagine Create. This awards presentation will feature student projects inspired by CIRCE by Madeleine Miller and Edith Hamilton’s MYTHOLOGY – the middle school selection. There is still time to participate: (https://writeoutloudsd.com/read-imagine-create/). Additional NEA Big Read activities taking place across San Diego in April 2024 include book discussions, a writing contest, presentations of Myths and Legends, visual art displays and discussions about the power of women.
Write Out Loud Artistic Director, Veronica Murphy shared “We’re excited about renewing our community’s interest in mythology by sharing programming around CIRCE by Madeleine Miller. Myths are often thought of as outdated, however; Miller’s imaginative novel is especially relevant in this time of women’s rights and their place in society being undermined. A celebration of feminist themes and interpretations, CIRCE challenges the patriarchal conventions of ancient myths through the eyes of this lesser known Goddess. We look forward to sharing some free copies of this beautiful novel at our launch event in October – and encourage community members to participate in the broader programming that takes place in April of 2024.”
NEA Big Read
Since 2006, the National Endowment for the Arts has funded more than 1,800 NEA Big Read programs, providing more than $25 million to organizations nationwide. In addition, NEA Big Read activities have reached every Congressional district in the country. Over the past 15+ years, grantees have leveraged more than $57 million in local funding to support their NEA Big Read programs. More than 6 million Americans have attended an NEA Big Read event, over 100,000 volunteers have participated at the local level, and over 40,000 community organizations have partnered to make NEA Big Read activities possible. For more information about the NEA Big Read, including book and author information, podcasts, and videos, visit arts.gov/neabigread.
Write Out Loud serves over 30,000 people annually with their core programs: In their six show season of Story Concerts, Twainfest – an annual free family celebration of 19th Century Literature; Poefest – a celebration of Edgar Allan Poe and other writers of the macabre, Kamishibi StoryBox Theatre for elementary students; Poetry Out Loud for high school students; Read Imagine Create for teens; Let Your Voice Be Heard – Student Poetry Initiative, Ripples From Walden Pond – a one-man play about Henry David Thoreau; and Stories for Seniors.
Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. Visit arts.gov to learn more.
Arts Midwest supports, informs, and celebrates Midwestern creativity. We build community and opportunity across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, the Native Nations that share this geography, and beyond. As one of six nonprofit United States Regional Arts Organizations, Arts Midwest works to strengthen local arts and culture efforts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, state agencies, private funders, and many others. Learn more at artsmidwest.org.
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