NEA BIG READ
September 24, 2026 - May 15th, 2027
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The NEA Big Read is a national initiative that brings communities together through the shared experience of reading and discussing a single book. This year, the Bradbury Art Museum is proud to participate with Joy Harjo's An American Sunrise as the featured selection.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this program encourages communities to celebrate our nation's rich artistic and cultural heritage while fostering meaningful conversations, creativity, and connection. Through literature, art, and public programming, the NEA Big Read highlights a wide range of voices and perspectives and invites people of all ages to engage with important stories and ideas.
Throughout the program, the Bradbury Art Museum will host a variety of events inspired by An American Sunrise, including exhibitions, lectures, workshops, discussions, and other community programs. Whether you're reading the book for the first time or revisiting it, we invite you to join us as we explore its themes together through art, conversation, and shared experiences.
FEATURED BOOKS
An American Sunrise
Joy Harjo's An American Sunrise is a powerful collection of poetry that reflects on history, identity, family, and belonging. Returning to her ancestral Muscogee (Creek) homelands nearly two centuries after her people's forced removal, Harjo explores the lasting impact of history while celebrating resilience, memory, and hope. Through deeply personal and lyrical poems, she invites readers to consider the connections between place, culture, and community.
Read more about An American Sunrise.
Girl Warrior
In Girl Warrior, Joy Harjo shares stories from her own life to encourage young readers through themes of courage, forgiveness, perseverance, and self-discovery. Written especially for Native girls and women, the book celebrates identity, family, and the strength found in embracing one's own story while honoring the generations that came before.
Read more about Girl Warrior.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joy Harjo is an internationally acclaimed poet, musician, performer, and member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She served as the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States and was the first Native American writer to hold the position. Through poetry, music, and storytelling, Harjo explores themes of identity, memory, community, resilience, and our connection to the natural world.
Her work has received numerous honors, including the National Book Critics Circle Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, the Poetry Foundation's Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, and a National Humanities Medal. Harjo's writing continues to inspire readers around the world by celebrating Indigenous voices while inviting reflection on history, culture, and shared human experiences.
As the featured author of the NEA Big Read, Harjo's An American Sunrise and The Girl Warrior invite readers to explore the power of storytelling, belonging, and community through poetry and personal narrative.
Read more about Joy Harjo here.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Participating in the NEA Big Read is easy, and everyone is welcome!
Send us an email to let us know you're interested in participating or partnering with us.
Visit the Bradbury Art Museum to receive a free copy of An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo or The Girl Warrior (while supplies last).
Read the book on your own, with your class, book club, or community group.
Attend the NEA Big Read kickoff event on September 24 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at the Bradbury Art Museum, held in conjunction with the opening reception for More Than Human.
Attend our programs throughout the year, including artist talks, lectures, exhibitions, family activities, workshops, and community discussions.
Join us on March 2, 2027, for a special keynote presentation by Joy Harjo at Arkansas State University.
Share your experience by creating artwork, writing, poetry, or reflections inspired by the books, and let us showcase your responses as part of the community celebration.
Together, we can build a community-wide conversation through literature, art, and shared experiences.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Opening Reception: More Than Human
September 24th, 2026 | 5:00-7:00 PM
Join us for the opening of More Than Human, an immersive exhibition exploring the evolving relationships between humans, technology, and the natural world. The reception will also serve as the kickoff event for the NEA Big Read, launching a year of community conversations inspired by Joy Harjo's An American Sunrise. A full exhibition description and digital catalog will be available soon.
Joy Harjo at Arkansas State University
March 2, 2027
Join us for a keynote presentation by Joy Harjo, poet, musician, and former U.S. Poet Laureate, as the culminating event of the NEA Big Read. Additional details and registration information will be announced closer to the event.
Stay tuned for additional programs, workshops, exhibitions, and community events throughout the NEA Big Read 2026-2027