THE BIG READ

The Big Read, launched nationally in 2006 by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), encourages literary reading by asking communities to come together to read and discuss a single book. Modeled on successful "one book, one community" programs, the Big Read was created to address the national decline in literary reading as documented in the NEA's 2004 landmark survey “Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America.” The survey showed that less than half the American adult population now reads literature. The Big Read, both locally and nationally, has done much to reverse this decline.

Community response to our first two Big Read initiatives, focusing on Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 (September 2007) and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (January 2009), was widespread and enthusiastic. Our most recent Big Read (October 2009) was also a huge success, focusing on the chilling, highly influential writing of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849). Unlike past Big Read initiatives here in Brunswick and the Golden Isles, which focused on a single novel by one author, this time the entire community read the many collected short stories and poetry of this landmark writer. The event featured a very well-attended kick-off on First Friday in Historic Downtown Brunswick, with local merchants participating in a Poe Hunt that awarded prizes to the intrepid detectives among us, and made for a wonderfully fun night for all ages. With a full month of discussion groups, lectures, special events, films, exhibits, performances, and school programs, it was a memorable time for everyone in our coastal area.

Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association,
in partnership with the
Brunswick-Glynn County Library, Glynn County School System, and College of Coastal Georgia,
extends our appreciation to the following individuals and organizations who contributed
so much toward making this a great community event:

National Endowment for the Arts

Cary Knapp & Maureen Hersey

The merchants of Historic Downtown Brunswick
and Downtown Development Authority

The Brunswick News

Three Rivers Regional Library System

Big Read Exhibit Contributing Artists

Comcast

Discussion Group Leaders, Readers, Performers
Mary Freeman, Valerie Goddard,
Michelle Johnson, Sudy Leavy,
Kathleen Lundahl, Ann Mason,
Jack McDevitt, Harry Paisley, Sally Webb

And YOU...the Big Readers of the Golden Isles

Congratulations to the winners of
The Big Read Essay Contest
Tristan Walker, 8th Grade, St. Francis Xavier
Jessica Jones, 11th Grade, Brunswick High