Indiana Humanities Announces Literary Festival Lineup

Indiana Humanities will celebrate the power of writing that grows in the Midwest during the second annual Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest on Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11, offering a full schedule for writers, readers, and lovers of all things literary.

Hosted in partnership with local poets Mitchell L.H. Douglas and Chantel Massey, the festival will take place at the Harrison Center in Indianapolis and will include: a book fair with local booksellers and literary organizations; panel conversations; local and regional author readings; a local writers mixer; workshops led by experienced authors; bookish activities for all ages; an open mic; and food trucks, music, games, and prizes.

Proof is free and open to the public, though registration is encouraged. The keynote INconversation on Friday, Oct. 10, will be between award-winning poets Ross Gay (The Book of Delights) and Bernardo Wade (A Love Tap), followed by a book signing. Writing workshops, a book fair, a local writers mixer, an open mic, and a conversation with Danez Smith, an award-winning author of four poetry collections, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 11.

“We know the literary scene in Indiana and the Midwest is overflowing with talent, and we want to make sure Hoosiers have the opportunity to celebrate that,” said Megan Telligman, director of programs at Indiana Humanities. “This year, there will be even more opportunities to engage with renowned writers and local literary organizations and meet readers of all genres, and we hope everyone feels inspired to get involved in the blossoming literary community that can be found at Proof.”

What: book fair, panel discussions, author readings, local writers mixer, writing workshops, family-friendly activities, open mic

When: Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11

Where: The Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St. Indianapolis, IN 46202

RSVP: https://events.humanitix.com/proof2025

Event Lineup:

WRITING WORKSHOPS

·       Documentary Poetics with Teresa Dzieglewicz — Test out a new style of poetry that makes something new from official documents like news articles

·       Family Memory Write-In with Katherine Higgs-Coulthard – Use prompts to make neighborhood maps and write about childhood memories

·       Generative Writing with Thomas Kneeland — Slow down and create freely with a sound bath and guided poetry prompts

·       Haikus with David Hoppe — Brush up on your 5/7/5 game and learn how this Japanese art form can become a part of your everyday life

·       Magical Realism with Téa Franco — Combine the magical with the mundane to give your characters a voice that can be heard by all

·       Playwriting with Lou Harry — Dig into the warts-and-all realities of writing, workshopping, and staging a play

·       Reimagined Reality with Sarah Layden — Incorporate real-life conversations and moments into your own fictional narrative. Supported by hello & handshake.

·       Youth Zine Making with Listen to Our Future Inc. — Engage in creative expression by reading a short story and crafting your own zine

READINGS

·       Mary Ardery — Author of the poetry collection Level Watch and recipient of a Lifelong Arts Fellowship from the Indiana Arts Commission

·       Teresa Dzieglewicz — Poet-in-Residence at the Chicago Poetry Center and part of the founding team of Mní Wičhóni Nakíčižiŋ Wóuŋspe (Defenders of the Water School)

·       Kristine Esser Slentz — Author and cofounder, organizer, and host of Adverse Abstraction, a monthly experimental artist series

·       Corey Ewing — Former Artist-at-Work with Kheprw Institute and a current teacher, coach, and multi-disciplinary artist

·       Samantha Fain — Indiana writer whose debut book of poetry, Are You There, was released in 2024

·       Melissa Fraterrigo — Author, founder of Lafayette Writers’ Studio, and creative writing teacher at Purdue University and in the MFA program at Butler University

·       MARS. Marshall — Writer, film photographer, author of FLOWER BOI, and codirector of Third Wave Fund

·       Rosalie Moffett – Award-winning author, assistant professor at the University of Southern Indiana, and senior poetry editor for the Southern Indiana Review

·       Sreepadaarchana Munjuluri — 2023 National Poetry Out Loud champion, IU Indianapolis sophomore, and host of Volta Poetry Open Mic series

·       Sylvia Thomas — Poet, musician, artist, resident in Big Car Collaborative’s housing program, and Creative Renewal Fellow through the Indy Arts Council

CONVERSATIONS

·       A Conversation with Arriel Vinson and Leah Johnson — Vinson is a Reese’s Book Club LitUp Fellow whose debut YA novel-in-verse, Under the Neon Lights, was recently released, and Johnson is a USA Today bestselling YA author of You Should See Me in a Crown

·       A Conversation with Bernardo Wade and Ross Gay — Wade is a published poet and editor for Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora, and Gay is the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Delights

·       A Conversation with Danez Smith — Smith is the award-winning author of four poetry collections, including their most recent book, Bluff, and teaches at the Randolph College MFA Program in Minneapolis

·       Censorship: A Conversation on Voice, Artistic Risk, and Imagination — A panel exploring how creative expression collides with cultural norms, political power, and the evolving lines of public acceptability

·       The Craft of Crime Writing — Award-winning midwestern crime writers in conversation about the craft of writing a good mystery

·       How We Show Up: Building Literary Communities — A panel diving into what it means to build community today, and how we can do it with intention, resilience, and care

·       The Legacies of Booth Tarkington — Panelists bring different perspectives on Tarkington’s literary and historical legacy

·       Literary Landscapes of the Midwest — A conversation that begins with the hyperlocal literary experience and builds toward a larger mosaic of the diverse stories we tell about our region

·       The Literary Social Life: A History of the Indianapolis Woman’s Club — A presentation about how the historic Propylaeum has been a space to gather and explore literature for generations of women

·       The Responsibility of Editors — A discussion focused on the idea of an editor’s role during a time of increasing censorship and how editors are meeting these challenges

·       Unpacking Publishing: Approaches to Getting Your Book Published — Presented by Tomorrow Bookstore, this conversation provides an inside look at the publishing industry and breaks down various models of how to be a successful, published author

Activities like the Midwest Book Fair, Paws to Read visits with therapy dogs, a Silent Book Club Indy meetup, opportunities for literary gaming, tea sampling with Tea’s Me, and a “Letters to Dead Authors” writing activation will take place all day Saturday in the neighborhood surrounding the Harrison Center, including at the Indianapolis Propylaeum, Loudmouth Books, and Foundry Provisions. The festival will end with an open mic hosted by local poets on Saturday evening, which will be open to all writers, readers, and lovers of the spoken word.

For more details and upcoming lineup announcements, visit Indiana Humanities’ website, which will have the most up-to-date information.