Go Big Read

03/27/2026

The 2025-2026 academic year isn’t over. In need of a book to read? In need of discussion materials? Check out our 2025-2026 Go Big Read Discussion Guide, available under the resources tab on our website.

03/24/2026

03/17/2026

02/12/2026

Join the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) in collaboration with UW-Madison’s Go Big Read Program ( ) and Madison Public Library ( ) for the “I have yet to choose a name” generative workshop series. Join your community in creating pieces that speak to themes addressed in the 2025-26 Go Big Read book, ‘James’ by Percival Everett.

Our last workshop is tonight from 6:00-8:00pm at the Madison Central Public Library (Room 302).

Register for this workshop at: go.wisc.edu/ OMAlGoBigRead or find the in link our bio!

12/11/2025

Through our partnership with UW-Madison's Go Big Read program, we're excited to offer two generative workshops called "I have yet to choose a name" led by the First Wave - Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives and focused on the themes of history, memory, imagination and creative expression that were present in this year's Go Big Read book James by Percival Everett.

In these workshops we invite participants to create, collaborate, and engage in “retellings" of their own stories and lived experiences as a means to reclamation and self-identification.

The first session takes place this Sat, December 13 from 1:30-3:30pm at Central Library and the second will be in early February. You're encouraged (but not required) to attend both to create a performance piece that will appear in a showcase in March.

Register: https://bit.ly/4iOxheL

Post edited 12/12/25 at 9:30am to update the program start time.

11/12/2025

Join us at the Madison Central Public Library on Monday, November 17 at 5:30 p.m. for a panel exploring Wisconsin’s history related to slavery. We hope you can join us!

11/06/2025

Nominations are now open for the 2026-2027 Go Big Read! Suggest a book before November 19th.

11/04/2025

Join us this evening for the Go Big Read keynote event featuring award-winning author Percival Everett and University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin.

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025 | 7-8:30 p.m. CT
Varsity Hall, Union South
No tickets required. A live webstream will be available on Tuesday Nov. 4 on the Go Big Read website.

Free and open to the public

11/03/2025

Join us tomorrow, November 4 at 7 p.m. for a special Go Big Read event with author Percival Everett, presented in partnership with the Wisconsin Book Festival! Everett will discuss his acclaimed novel James—winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award—this year’s Go Big Read selection, at Union South’s Varsity Hall (1308 W. Dayton St.).

This event is free and open to the public, with seating on a first-come basis—come early, this one will be packed! A livestream will also be available. Learn more at our website or gobigread.wisc.edu

10/27/2025

Join us next week for the 2025 Go Big Read Author Keynote Event with Percival Everett!

As a reminder, this event is free and open to the public. No tickets required. Along with the option for in-person attendance, the event will be live streamed. The livestream link will be posted on the Go Big Read website homepage on November 4th.

CART Captioning and ASL Interpreters available. Please email gobigread@library.wisc.edu to request other accommodations.

10/24/2025