April 30 to May 6, 2012

For eight years, the World Voices Festival has presented over 1,200 writers to audiences well over 100,000. The 2011 Festival, our most successful to date, was a vibrant fête of literary culture—and our most highly attended to date. In 2012, we plan to exceed our own expectations as the PEN World Voices Festival expands, building upon our presence in and around the High Line/Meatpacking District, one of New York’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

Founded and chaired by Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie, the PEN World Voices Festival annually attracts more than 150 writers from across the globe for an exciting, star-studded celebration of books, writers, and readers. The Festival features Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer, Booker, Dublin, IMPAC, and other international literary prize winners, as well as cultural mavens of every stripe. In its eight years, this event has showcased emerging and established literary voices during a week-long festival of readings, performance, conversations, panel discussions, and lectures.

Press release and tentative program available upon request.

More than 150 writers, from 41 countries, speaking 18 languages, to an audience of 11,000

• 2011 FESTIVAL EVENTS—Held at some of New York’s oldest, most impressive cultural institutions, including the New York Public Library, 92nd Street Y, Cooper Union, Westbeth Artists Residence, and the Morgan Library.

• POETRY EXTRAVAGANZA—A night of poetry and music curated and hosted by Laurie Anderson.

• LITERARY SAFARI—A PEN-orchestrated event exploring New York City’s best-kept secret, the Westbeth Artists Residence.

• KARMA CHAIN—A refined version of the game Telephone involving the High Line—and a Tibetan Lama, Salman Rushdie, and 300 readers.

• THE MOTH—Event featuring literary stars such as Jonathan Franzen and others.

• PARTNERS—2011 partners included: The Standard Hotel, Friends of the High Line, the Rubin Museum, WNYC, The New York Review of Books, and The Moth, among others.

• MEDIA COVERAGE—More than ever, the Festival was reviewed, documented, and discussed in major publications which included The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, T Magazine: The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Town & Country, The New York Post, The Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, and The Village Voice—not to mention hundreds of blogs and extensive international press coverage in the U.S. and overseas.