Old Dominion University’s 47th annual Literary Festival — Oct. 6-11, 2024 — delivered a cornucopia of insights and entertainment: readings, panel discussions, interdisciplinary events, and performances. Connections to art, music, dance — even healthcare — were explored. The festival, presented under the theme “Ancient Futures,” offered more than 18 events over six days. Nested within the festival were the launch party for a new student publication, “Constellate,” and the local kickoff of the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read initiative. Rebekah Taussig, whose memoir “Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body” is a Big Read featured title, spoke at Chartway Arena’s Big Blue Room and led an intimate workshop for students in the Batten Arts and Letters Building. All images by Nicholas Clark and Chuck Thomas/ODU 

Rebekah Taussig speaks at the NEA Big Read event at Chartway Arena, Oct. 8.

Rebekah Taussig speaks at the NEA Big Read event at Chartway Arena, Oct. 8.

New York Times bestselling author Dolen Perkins-Valdez speaks at University Theatre, Oct. 11.

Lucian Mattison, a U.S.-Argentinian poet and translator who earned his MFA from Old Dominion University, speaks at University Theatre, Oct. 7.

Sigrid Nunez, a 2018 winner of the National Book Award, reads at University Theatre, Oct. 10.

Geoff Bouvier, poet and journalist and creative writing teacher at Virginia Commonwealth University, speaks at University Theatre, Oct. 10.

Christal Brown, a professor of dance at Middlebury College, performs at University Theatre, Oct. 8.

Jasper Waugh-Quasebarth, director and curator of ODU’s Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries, introduces mixed media visual artist and Old Dominion professor Manuela Mourão who gave a talk at the Gordon Galleries, Oct. 9.

Manuela Mourão speaks at Gordon Galleries, Oct. 9. 

Marianne Chan, who teaches creative writing at ODU and co-directed the Literary Festival, speaks at University Theatre, Oct. 7.

Wine Dark Sea — ODU professors Drew Lopenzina and Liz Black — perform at University Theatre, Oct. 9.

A listener — program in hand — absorbs one of the Literary Festival’s 18-plus presentations.

Cullen Strawn, ODU’s executive director for the arts, speaks during a student session while author Rebekah Taussig looks on.

John McManus, a professor of English at Old Dominion and co-director of the Literary Festival, speaks.

John McManus speaks during the launch event for “Constellate,” Old Dominion’s new student writing anthology. Sitting with McManus are MFA creative writing students. They are, left to right, Ifrah Yousuf, Elena Knudsen, Megan Pastore and Taylore Huxford.

A woman in a wheelchair talks on a stage.
A woman makes a fist while talking.
A woman speaks from a podium.
A man raises his arms while talking from a podium.
A woman reads from a book on a stage.
A man speaks on a stage with a projection behind him.
A woman dances on a stage.
A man speaks into a microphone in front of a group of people.
A woman speaks into a microphone at a podium.
A woman speaks into a microphone behind a podium.
A man and woman perform on a stage.
A person holds a program in their lap.
A man speaks into a microphone.
A man speaks into a microphone behind a podium.
A group of people sit at a table talking to a crowd.

Rebekah Taussig speaks at the NEA Big Read event at Chartway Arena, Oct. 8.

Rebekah Taussig speaks at the NEA Big Read event at Chartway Arena, Oct. 8.

New York Times bestselling author Dolen Perkins-Valdez speaks at University Theatre, Oct. 11.

Lucian Mattison, a U.S.-Argentinian poet and translator who earned his MFA from Old Dominion University, speaks at University Theatre, Oct. 7.

Sigrid Nunez, a 2018 winner of the National Book Award, reads at University Theatre, Oct. 10.

Geoff Bouvier, poet and journalist and creative writing teacher at Virginia Commonwealth University, speaks at University Theatre, Oct. 10.

Christal Brown, a professor of dance at Middlebury College, performs at University Theatre, Oct. 8.

Jasper Waugh-Quasebarth, director and curator of ODU’s Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries, introduces mixed media visual artist and Old Dominion professor Manuela Mourão who gave a talk at the Gordon Galleries, Oct. 9.

Manuela Mourão speaks at Gordon Galleries, Oct. 9. 

Marianne Chan, who teaches creative writing at ODU and co-directed the Literary Festival, speaks at University Theatre, Oct. 7.

Wine Dark Sea — ODU professors Drew Lopenzina and Liz Black — perform at University Theatre, Oct. 9.

A listener — program in hand — absorbs one of the Literary Festival’s 18-plus presentations.

Cullen Strawn, ODU’s executive director for the arts, speaks during a student session while author Rebekah Taussig looks on.

John McManus, a professor of English at Old Dominion and co-director of the Literary Festival, speaks.

John McManus speaks during the launch event for “Constellate,” Old Dominion’s new student writing anthology. Sitting with McManus are MFA creative writing students. They are, left to right, Ifrah Yousuf, Elena Knudsen, Megan Pastore and Taylore Huxford.