This was addressed to the board, but may be of interest to some of our members. This was posted to the EWCA board on January 15th, much too late for any savings from early registration or for calls for papers. Seems the main message was that the AWP has advertising space for sale, which might be of interest to some of you. Please, take a look. Some of you may be interested in attending.
Greetings from AWP—the Association of Writers & Writing Programs. We are the US’s professional association of creative writers and writing programs and represent over 50,000 individual writers, 550 academic creative writing programs, and 150 writers centers and conferences. I am reaching out to you today about our annual conference and bookfair, the largest annual gathering of creative writers in North America.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year AWP is moving forward with all-virtual conference, 3-7 March 2021. This offers the opportunity for writers from around the world to participate. Our keynote speaker is US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. The conference will feature 250 readings and panels and over 20 featured events.
Held annually since 1973, AWP offers artistic exposure, professional development and access to opportunity for writers and teachers of writing at all stages of their careers. For example, in 2019, writer Jasmin Iolani Hakes was able to attend her first AWP conference. “AWP changed my life,” she writes, “I got an email about submitting a general query to the agents that would be there through Writer to Agent. I figured it would be good practice. Three agents requested a meeting, and the third ended up being my unicorn. My novel sold at auction in the fall and comes out with Scribner next spring!”
This year, we’ve identified an exceptional online platform to bring the AWP experience into the virtual space. One opportunity of our new virtual reality is the ability to connect across great distances, and we very much hope writing organizations like yours might encourage participation from your members, building bridges between international writing communities.
I’ve attached the #AWP21 sponsor guide (find here:
(https://www.awpwriter.org/awp_conference/schedule_overview)
which details packages that offer marketing benefits, cost effective registration packages, and exhibit spaces. We’d also like to offer you and/or your members access to special sponsorship packages developed for our institutional members that offer the ability for a large number of your students or staff to attend at a very reasonable cost. These are outlined below:
Sustaining Benefactor
$3,000 Package:
30 Registrations
Sponsor Listing on AWP’s website & conference platform
Sponsor listing in 4 issues of The Writer’s Chronicle
Additional 3 months post-conference access through 3 June 2021
Option for evening virtual reception
Sustaining Sponsor
$4,500 Package:
50 Registrations
Sponsor Listing on AWP’s website & conference platform
Sponsor listing in 4 issues of The Writer’s Chronicle
Additional 3 months post-conference access through 3 June 2021
Option for evening virtual reception
$950 Student-Only Add-On
25 Registrations
Additional 3 months post-conference access through 3 June 2021
As an AWP attendee over many years, I can’t tell you what an enriching and rewarding experience this unique conference of creative writers truly is. Please look over the sponsor guide and let me know if you have any questions or if I can help in any way.
In the difficult times we are all facing, AWP is very excited to have the opportunity to bring the international literary community together for four days of extraordinary learning and exchange. Here is a link to the schedule of accepted panel events:
https://www.awpwriter.org/awp_conference/schedule_overview.
We will also be offering some VIP sponsor events and look forward to sharing those details.
I hope you will consider how your organization and/or members might join us, and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or if I can be helpful in any way.
With all best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.
Yours,
Mimi Herman
Vice Chair, AWP Board of Directors