BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261017 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261018 TRANSP:TRANSPARENT X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:TRUE SUMMARY:NEA Big Read at Portage Public Library DESCRIPTION:Our Portage Public Library encourages you to be part of the NEA Big Read 2026. Read with us from October 1 - November 30\, 2026. During the months of October and November there will be various opportunities for book discussions\, author talks\, walking history tours\, a documentary screening\, poetry workshop and a community art project. \n\n\n\nGet your FREE Copy of the Big Read Book at the Library. \n\nBook Selection: Women of the Revolution: Bravery and Sacrifice on the Southern Battlefields by Robert M. Dunkerly\n\n\n\nOur community read program will explore Wisconsin women's role in defining American history since the signing of the Declaration of Independence through the immersive and interdisciplinary study of Robert M. Dunkerly's Women of the Revolution. Working alongside local community organizations and program partners\, we will explore themes of diversity\, representation\, untold stories and revolutionary women. We plan to celebrate the influential and everyday women of Wisconsin over the last 250 years through book discussions\, author talks\, walking history tours\, a documentary screening\, poetry workshop and a community art project. \n\n \n\nWhat is the NEA Big Read 2026: The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read - a partnership with Arts Midwest - broadens our understanding of ourselves and our neighbors through the power of a shared reading experience. The goals of the NEA Big Read are to inspire meaningful conversations\, celebrate local creativity\, elevate wide variety of voices and perspectives and build stronger connections in each community. \n\n\n\nBig Read Program Schedule\n\n \n\nSaturday\, Oct 17\n\nPoetry Workshop Pt. 1 - "Revolution and Revelation"\n\nHosted at: Portage Public Library Bidwell Room\n\nTime: 9:30am-1:30pm\n\n \n\nWednesday\, Oct 21\n\nAuthor Visit Kathleen Ernst\n\nHosted at: Portage Public Library Teen Room\n\nTime: 5:30pm\n\n \n\nSaturday\, Oct 24\n\nPoetry Workshop Pt. 2 - "Revolution and Revelation"\n\nHosted at: Portage Public Library Children's Program Room\n\nTime: 9:30am-1:30pm\n\n \n\nWednesday\, Oct 28\n\nBook Discussion and Art Gallery Tour\n\nHosted at: Portage Center for the Arts Drury Gallery\n\nTime: 1pm\n\n \n\nMonday\, Nov 2\n\nCommunity Art Project Submissions Due\n\nHosted at: Portage Public Library\n\nTime: All Day\n\n \n\nTuesday\, Nov 10\n\nBook Discussion and Museum Tour\n\nHosted at: Museum at the Portage\n\nTime: 1pm\n\n \n\nWednesday\, Nov 18\n\nAuthor Visit Susan Apps Bodilly\n\nHosted at: Portage Public Library Bidwell Room\n\nTime: 5:30pm\n\n \n\nMonth of November\n\nCommunity Art on Display\n\n"Portraits of Wisconsin Women"\n\nHosted at: Portage Public Library\n\nTime: During open hours X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Our Portage Public Library encourages you to be part of the NEA Big Read 2026. \; Read with us from October 1 - November 30\, 2026. \;  \;  \;During the months of October and November there will be various opportunities for book discussions\, author talks\, walking history tours\, a documentary screening\, poetry workshop and a community art project. \;  \; \;
\n
\nGet your FREE Copy of the Big Read Book at the Library. \; \;
\nBook Selection: Women of the Revolution: Bravery and Sacrifice on the Southern Battlefields by Robert M. Dunkerly
\n
\nOur community read program will explore Wisconsin women'\;s role in defining American history since the signing of the Declaration of Independence through the immersive and interdisciplinary study of Robert M. Dunkerly'\;s Women of the Revolution. \;Working alongside local community organizations and program partners\, we will explore themes of diversity\, representation\, untold stories and revolutionary women. \; We plan to celebrate the influential and everyday women of Wisconsin over the last 250 years through book discussions\, author talks\, \;walking history tours\, a documentary screening\, poetry workshop and a community art project. \;
\n \;
\nWhat is the NEA Big Read 2026: \; The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read - a partnership with Arts Midwest - broadens our understanding of ourselves and our neighbors through the power of a shared reading experience. \; The goals of the NEA Big Read are to inspire meaningful conversations\, celebrate local creativity\, elevate wide variety of voices and perspectives and build stronger connections in each community. \; \;
\n
\nBig Read Program Schedule
\n \;
\nSaturday\, Oct 17
\nPoetry Workshop Pt. 1 - &ldquo\;Revolution and Revelation&rdquo\;
\nHosted at: Portage Public Library Bidwell Room
\nTime: 9:30am-1:30pm
\n \;
\nWednesday\, Oct 21
\nAuthor Visit &ndash\; Kathleen Ernst
\nHosted at: Portage Public Library Teen Room
\nTime: 5:30pm
\n \;
\nSaturday\, Oct 24
\nPoetry Workshop Pt. 2 - &ldquo\;Revolution and Revelation&rdquo\;
\nHosted at: Portage Public Library Children&rsquo\;s Program Room
\nTime: 9:30am-1:30pm
\n \;
\nWednesday\, Oct 28
\nBook Discussion and Art Gallery Tour
\nHosted at: Portage Center for the Arts Drury Gallery
\nTime: 1pm
\n \;
\nMonday\, Nov 2
\nCommunity Art Project Submissions Due
\nHosted at: Portage Public Library
\nTime: All Day
\n \;
\nTuesday\, Nov 10
\nBook Discussion and Museum Tour
\nHosted at: Museum at the Portage
\nTime: 1pm
\n \;
\nWednesday\, Nov 18
\nAuthor Visit &ndash\; Susan Apps Bodilly
\nHosted at: Portage Public Library Bidwell Room
\nTime: 5:30pm
\n \;
\nMonth of November
\nCommunity Art on Display
\n&ldquo\;Portraits of Wisconsin Women&rdquo\;
\nHosted at: Portage Public Library
\nTime: During open hours
\n
\n
\n \;

\n LOCATION: UID:e.374.40813 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20260912T141812Z URL:http://chambermaster.portagewi.com/events/details/nea-big-read-at-portage-public-library-40813 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR