Voices Unbound: An Evening of Music and Literary Defiance Against Censorship

​Join us for a powerful and evocative evening of musical performances and readings celebrating the freedom to read without boundaries. "Voices Unbound: An Evening of Music and Literary Defiance Against Censorship" is a unique event dedicated to honoring the writers whose works have faced censorship and challenge.

This event will take place in person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on the 7th Floor and will be recorded.

As we gather in an intimate and dynamic setting, the evening will feature:

Musical Performances by Krystofer Maison: Experience diverse musical styles that resonate with themes of resistance and liberation. Talented musicians will perform pieces that amplify oppressed voices and celebrate art's transformative power.

Readings from Banned Books: Hear stirring readings from some of the most influential banned books in literary history. Passionate readers will bring these passages to life, shedding light on their enduring relevance and profound impact.

This event promises an evening of inspiration and solidarity, where we come together to reaffirm the importance of creative expression and intellectual freedom. Don't miss this opportunity to honor the legacy of courageous authors and to be part of a movement that celebrates the unyielding power of voices unbound.

To join the event in person | Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

SPEAKER LINEUP

​Born in Shillong, north-eastern India, Siddhartha Deb lives in New York. His fiction and nonfiction have been longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award, shortlisted for the Orwell Prize, and been awarded the Pen Open prize and the 2024 Anthony Veasna So Fiction prize. His journalism and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Republic, Dissent, The Baffler, N+1, and Caravan.

Kristopher Jansma is the author of the novel Our Narrow Hiding Places (Ecco) as well as the forthcoming book Revisionaries: What We Can Learn from the Lost, Unfinished, and Just Plain Bad Work of Great Writers  (Quirk Books). His previous novels are Why We Came to the City and The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards (Viking) and he is the winner of the Sherwood Anderson Foundation Fiction Award and a Pushcart Prize, as well as the recipient of an honorable mention for the PEN/Hemingway Award. His short fiction has been published in the Alaska Quarterly Review, Prairie Schooner, Story, and ZYZZYVA. His nonfiction has been published in the New York Times, The Sun, The Millions, Salon, Real Simple, The Believer, and Electric Literature. Kristopher is an associate professor of English and the director of the creative writing program at SUNY New Paltz.

Hugh Ryan is a writer and curator. He is the author of The Women's House of Detention, (winner, 2022 Stonewall Book Award). His first book was When Brooklyn Was Queer (finalist, Randy Shilts & Lambda Literary Awards). He was honored with the 2020 Allan Berube Prize from the AHA.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTES

• Assistive listening devices and/or hearing loops are available at the venue.


• You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.


• This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.

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Please submit all press inquiries to Lizzie Tribone at least 48 hours before the event: email lizzietribone@nypl.org.
 

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All programs are subject to change or cancellation.

The 7 Stories Up Series at SNFL is made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).