1. What is The Big Read?
The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 31 selections from U.S. and world literature. This initiative supports innovative reading programs in selected communities, providing engaging educational resources for discussing outstanding literature and conducting expansive outreach and publicity campaigns, and a website offering comprehensive information about the authors and their works. Big Read grantees comprise a variety of not-for-profit organizations, including libraries, municipalities, colleges, and arts, culture, and science organizations. To date, the NEA has funded more than 800 Big Read programs in the nation’s towns and cities.
Each community’s Big Read includes a kick-off event to launch the program; activities devoted specifically to its Big Read selection (e.g., panel discussions, lectures, public readings); events using the book as a point of departure (e.g., film screenings, theatrical readings, exhibits); and book discussions in diverse locations aimed at a wide range of audiences.
2. Why has The Big Read been developed?
The Big Read was created in response to the 2004 National Endowment for the Arts report Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, which identified a critical decline in literary reading. The study showed that literary reading was declining among all age groups, with the steepest decline in the youngest age groups.
A 2007 follow-up report, To Read or Not To Read: A Question of National Consequence, indicated that not only were Americans reading less, they were also reading less well, and these declines in reading have civic, social, and economic implications. To Read or Not To Read assembled data on reading trends from more than two dozen sources, including federal agencies, universities, foundations, and associations.
Reading on the Rise, an NEA research brochure based on a 2008 study, showed an uptick in reading rates. In support of this new trend, the NEA continues to work to reengage American readers and encourage reluctant readers by awarding grants for local Big Read projects and by improving access to the art of literature.
3. Does The Big Read include poetry?
The Big Read catalog includes the great American poets Emily Dickinson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Robinson Jeffers, and Edgar Allan Poe. The educational materials for Dickinson, Longfellow, and Jeffers were created with support from the Poetry Foundation. The application process for Big Read projects featuring these poets is the same as for all other Big Read titles.
4. Is there an international component to The Big Read?
The catalog for The Big Read includes three titles of outstanding literature from other countries: The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Russian author Leo Tolstoy; Sun, Stone, and Shadows: 20 Great Mexican Short Stories, edited by Jorge H. Hernández; and The Thief and the Dogs by Egyptian Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz. The application process for these titles is the same as for all other Big Read books. Organizations that apply for one of these international Big Read selections should explore local resources that will illuminate the literature and culture of the relevant country.
5. How do you select the featured works for The Big Read?
We have a Readers Circle—a distinguished group of writers, scholars, librarians, critics, artists, and publishing professionals—who recommend the next Big Read books for American communities to share. The complete catalog of Big Read titles is available on the Our Books page.
6. How are the community organizations selected to participate in The Big Read?
The application and guidelines for The Big Read, developed by the Arts Endowment and Arts Midwest, are distributed nationwide to arts, cultural, literary, and civic organizations, such as libraries, museums, and local arts agencies. Organizations chosen to receive a Big Read grant are selected by a panel of experts who review the proposed project for artistic excellence and merit. Competitive applications demonstrate experience in building strong local partnerships, reaching and engaging new and diverse audiences, working with educators, involving local and state public officials, and working with media.
7. What do community organizations receive if they are selected to participate in The Big Read?
Selected organizations receive grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to support their Big Read projects. One of the major benefits of The Big Read for selected community organizations is the availability of high-quality educational and promotional materials provided at no cost to the organizations.
The Big Read grantees receive the following educational and promotional materials:
Reader’s Guides contain an introduction to the featured book or poet, historical context, background on the writer, information about related works, and discussion questions. Reader’s Guides also are available in Spanish for several Big Read titles.
Teacher’s Guides contain lesson plans and other resources geared toward middle and high school students. The guides can be used in the classroom or by the school library media specialist. Teacher’s Guides adhere to National Council of Teachers of English standards.
Audio Guides feature readings from The Big Read titles along with commentary from renowned artists, educators, and public figures such as Robert Redford, Colin Powell, and Mary-Louise Parker, and Big Read authors such as Tim O’Brien and Julia Alvarez. Grantee organizations are encouraged to use the Audio Guides as radio programming.
Big Read publicity materials include posters, banners, and bookmarks. Participating organizations also have access to professionally-produced audio and video public service announcements for select titles.
Prior to starting their projects, Big Read organizations will participate in a series of online activities to prepare them to host and promote the Big Read in their communities. Online presentations include working with community partners and developing a public relations strategy, as well as book discussions and question-and-answer sessions on working with publishers and involving schools. Participants are also encouraged to exchange ideas about their selected Big Read titles with both new and returning grantees.
Big Read grantees also have access to a comprehensive Big Read website, which includes a virtual organizer’s guide for running a successful Big Read program, downloadable public relations templates and design elements, and a forum for exchanging ideas with other participants.
8. I'm not a grantee. Can I obtain copies of the Reader's, Teacher's, or Audio Guides?
The printed educational materials are created and distributed to Big Read grantees. In order to make Big Read materials available nationwide free-of-charge, the Reader’s and Teacher’s guides and selected Audio Guides are also posted in the Our Books section of this Web site.
9. How can I apply for The Big Read?
The application deadline for the 2010-11 grant cycle for Big Read programming has now passed. Please continue to check the Application Process page for updates on the next application deadline.
