The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library (KVML) will once again celebrate the American Library Association's Banned Books Week September 27 - October 23. This year's planned events will include virtual and (hopefully) in-person events at KVML's new "forever home" located downtown on the historic Indiana Avenue.

Banned Books Week is the annual national celebration of the freedom to read, which raises awareness about censorship and freedom of expression and each year KVML dedicates a week of activities to enlighten, entertain and educate. As a main programming element, an artist, educator, or other passionate visitor is invited to become the Banned Books Week activist to live in the museum behind a wall of real banned books in protest of the infringement of the right to free expression. This year's theme is Civic Engagement and are honored to have Indianapolis poet Manon Voice as "activist in residence" to engage with our Banned Books Week visitors. Planned events include:

Securing the Vote: Women's Suffrage in Indiana - Sunday, September 27, 2:00 p.m. - $12-$15 (or week pass). An Indiana Historical Society mobile event exhibit event tour and virtual presentation by IBJ Managing Editor Leslie Weidenbener.

Free Speech in the Cancel Culture - Monday, September 28, 6:00 p.m. - $12-$15 (or week pass). Poet Manon Voice, Professor James H. Madison, Mayor Joe Hogsett, and others share their thoughts on communicating in society these days and share a passage from their favorite banned book.

A History of Protesting for Change - Tuesday, September 29, 6:00 p.m. - -$12-$15 (or week pass). A History of Protesting for Change: Reading and discussion with "Abbie Hoffman" biographer Dan Simon, poet Manon Voice, IUPUI Professor of Education Dr. Lasana Kazembe.

Radical Reading Circle - Wednesday, September 30, 6:00 p.m. - $12-$15 (or week pass). Radical Reading Circle with IUPUI Professor of Education Dr. Lasana Kazembe, featuring the work of James Baldwin to introduce this ongoing program.

KVML Banned Books Week Fundraiser - with Phoenix Theatre - Thursday, October 1, 6:00 p.m. This in-person event features readings from Kurt Vonnegut: WordPlay, a new original play by David Hoppe featuring local actors led by producer Constance Macy and in partnership with the Phoenix Theatre. Tickets for members start at $100 and includes a week pass for the rest of Banned Books Week virtual events.

Virtual reading and interview with Ryan North - Friday, October 2, 6:00 p.m. - $12-$15 (or week pass). Virtual reading and interview with Ryan North, adaptor of Slaughterhouse-Five graphic novel. This includes "Art in Politics" First Friday Gallery Opening afterwards.

So It Goes literary journal release - Saturday, October 3: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m. - Free/virtual. Release of KVML's annual literary journal So It Goes with contributors and artists reading and showing their work. And from 12:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. the Youth Writing Program workshops include Writing for Graphic Novels with Ryan North; Writing for Change with Dr. Lasana Kazembe; and Writing for Fun with John David Anderson.

KVML plans on being open during the daytime the week of Banned Books Week so visitors will be able to see the exhibits and interact with their "activist in residents" Voice. Visitors will need to purchase their admission ticket online for specific days as there will be capacity restrictions due to COVID-19 compliance. Hours for the exhibit:

Sunday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Sunday is the final day for Women's Suffrage Exhibit

Friday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. (includes First Friday Open House)

Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (free admission)

"This year will be special and unique for so many reasons as this is our first Banned Books Week in our new home all while we're trying to survive and navigate through a global pandemic," says KVLM Founder and CEO Julia Whitehead. "We know our events will be accessible virtually and our hope is to integrate in-person events and opportunities in a safe, meaningful way. In the midst of all this, the real goal is to bring awareness to literary censorship and celebrate important works that resonate with us personally and culturally."

Week passes are available starting at $30 for members ($45 for non-members) for virtual access to programming all week long. Many of the events will offer limited in-person tickets. Week passes are not applicable to the Thursday, Oct. 1 event. To purchase tickets to the planned events or for more information on these events, visit vonnegutlibrary.org.