NEA Big Read Kickoff at Burton Barr Library
We’re kicking off the 2026–27 NEA Big Read season with a community celebration centered on the life, poetry, and enduring legacy of one of America’s most beloved poets, Emily Dickinson!
Join us on September 26th, from 10 AM – 1 PM upstairs in the College Depot at Phoenix’s beloved Burton Barr library.
The NEA Big Read brings communities together through the shared experience of reading, connecting, and creating around a single book and author. This year’s selection, The Essential Emily Dickinson, invites readers of all ages and backgrounds to explore Dickinson’s innovative poetry, rich inner life, and lasting influence on not only American literature, but American culture.
This fall, we begin with a free, all-ages kick-off event featuring opening remarks by Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and pop-up talks by Phoenix Poet Laureate and ASU Professor, Rosemarie Dombrowski, PhD. Attendees can enjoy hands-on creative activities and refreshments inspired by Dickinson’s poetry, including:
- Mini zine-making station 📖
- Cut-up poetry station ✂️
- Seed planting 🌱
- Magnetic poetry station 🧲
- Poetry pharmacy 📜
- Dickinson-themed photo booth 🤳
Free refreshments, giveaways, and copies of The Essential Emily Dickinson will be available while supplies last for participants of this special event.
No previous experience with poetry or familiarity with Emily Dickinson’s work is required! Whether you’re a lifelong reader or discovering Dickinson for the first time, the NEA Big Read offers opportunities to connect with others through conversation, creativity, and shared exploration of Dickinson’s influence on the United States of America.
This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.