BBF Unbound 2019: Seeking Submissions
2018’s BBF Unbound series of community-curated sessions offered a bounty of creative sessions and workshops proposed by members of our community. BBF Unbound sessions at last year’s festival included a primer on self-publishing, a workshop on telling politically relevant personal stories, a celebration of feminist romance, and a roundtable discussion on writing and publishing while queer. We love hearing your ideas for sessions and working with you to develop successful BBF presentations and workshops. Click here for a sample of last year’s selected “Queering the Canon” proposal (whose session participants are pictured above, toasting their success at the BBF afterparty).
We’re now accepting proposals for 2019 BBF Unbound sessions, to be presented at the Boston Book Festival on October 19 (in Copley Square) and October 20 (in Dudley Square/Roxbury).
We are looking for outside groups/individuals who can introduce fresh voices and new ideas to the BBF. Be creative! The session can involve a debate, demo, workshop, literary improv, dramatic readings, panel discussion, literary games, etc. We are not looking for product promotions, plugs for businesses, or sessions featuring a single author publicizing his or her book. We are especially interested in program proposals from organizations and individuals based in Roxbury, as well as by curators who represent communities historically underrepresented in publishing and literary programming.
You will be responsible for running your session, i.e., gathering participants, beginning and ending on time, and covering any expenses (beyond room rental and basic A/V). We will publicize your session on our website and in our Program Guide, and we will expect you to publicize it via your networks as well. Presenters who come to us via BBF Unbound receive all the same benefits as any invited presenters: a presenter badge that guarantees priority seating at sessions, a headshot and bio on the BBF website, and invitations to the kickoff cocktail reception and afterparty.
We will evaluate proposals based on: 1. Will the content appeal to the BBF audience? 2. Does the content offer something different from standard BBF fare? 3. Is the individual/group offering a plausible plan for implementing the session?
The deadline has been extended to July 5–applicants will be notified of their selection by mid-July.
Questions?: Contact Norah Piehl, norah@bostonbookfest.org
If you would like to submit a hard copy of your proposal, or if you would like to submit supporting materials, please send them to:
Norah Piehl, Executive Director
Boston Book Festival
32R Essex St. Cambridge, MA 02139
norah@bostonbookfest.org
We look forward to reviewing your submissions!
