PEN: Workshop: New Orleans

Where: Old School, 233 Mott St., New York City

New Orleans has long been a city from which writers have sought inspiration. Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, Kate Chopin, Truman Capote, Walker Percy, and Richard Ford are among those who have lived and worked there. What is the role of the writer—if any—in New Orleans today? Does the writer have any kind of civic duty to uphold following a tragedy like Katrina, and if so, what is it? In this session we will hope to draft plans for a public program that PEN will help to coordinate in New Orleans during the coming year.

Introductory notes: Sarah Broom, Richard Campanella, Fatima Shaik, and Billy Sothern; curated by Nathaniel Rich

Open to PEN Members, Festival authors, heads of cultural agencies, and press. RSVP to jessica@pen.org by April 22. Limited space. Please register early.