The Stanley Museum of Art has partnered with the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read program for Spring 2025. This event features a community wide reading of the novel Beloved by Toni Morrison. This initiative is tied to the upcoming exhibition at the Stanley, it’s a fine thing, opening on Feb. 13, 2025.  

NEA Big Read Logo

Iowa City is one of 62 communities nationwide participating in the 2023-2024 NEA Big Read. From February to May, our community will celebrate Beloved by Toni Morrison with a full calendar of events. This will include four Beloved-related discussions about literature and art, led by the Stanley’s curator of special projects and author of What Napoleon Could Not Do, Derek (DK) Nnuro.

The NEA Big Read in Iowa City is presented in partnership with the Stanley Museum of Art, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE Nea big read LEARN MORE ABOUT BELOVED BY TONI MORRISON

 

Upcoming Events

NEA Big Read | Discussion of "Beloved" with DK Nnuro promotional image

NEA Big Read | Discussion of "Beloved" with DK Nnuro

Saturday, March 8, 2025 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art
Join us for four discussions of Toni Morrison's Beloved and the exhibition it's a fine thing, led by the Stanley’s curator of special projects and author of What Napoleon Could Not Do, Derek (DK) Nnuro. Register for each session by clicking the dates below, capped at 30 participants:  Feb. 15 (Pages 1 - 59) March 8 (Pages 60 - 195) April 5 (Pages 199 - 277) May 10 (Pages 281 - 324) Iowa City is one of 62 communities nationwide participating in the 2023-2024 NEA Big Read. From February...
Alvin Ailey, Homecoming, and the Black Midwestern Imagination promotional image

Alvin Ailey, Homecoming, and the Black Midwestern Imagination

Sunday, March 9, 2025 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art
The Stanley Museum of Art, Hancher Auditorium, and the University of Iowa welcome Ronni Favors, a former dancer and current rehearsal director for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Born and raised in Iowa City, Favors will be in conversation with assistant professor of history and African American studies Ashley Howard, about artistic expression, home and the Black Midwestern experience.
Sundays with the Docents | "it's a fine thing" exhibition tour promotional image

Sundays with the Docents | "it's a fine thing" exhibition tour

Sunday, March 16, 2025 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Stanley Museum of Art
Join us for a tour of the Stanley Museum of Art's latest exhibition, it's a fine thing. This tour is presented in conjunction with the NEA Big Read and will draw connections between the show and Toni Morrison's novel Beloved. . This tour is part of the Sundays with the Docents program where Stanley docents create unique tours to share with our audiences throughout the year. Registration is strongly recommended. Walk-ins are welcome, but tours are capped at 20 participants. Reserve your spot at...
NEA Big Read | Discussion of "Beloved" with DK Nnuro promotional image

NEA Big Read | Discussion of "Beloved" with DK Nnuro

Saturday, April 5, 2025 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art
Join us for four discussions of Toni Morrison's Beloved and the exhibition it's a fine thing, led by the Stanley’s curator of special projects and author of What Napoleon Could Not Do, Derek (DK) Nnuro. Register for each session by clicking the dates below, capped at 30 participants:  Feb. 15 (Pages 1 - 59) March 8 (Pages 60 - 195) April 5 (Pages 199 - 277) May 10 (Pages 281 - 324) Iowa City is one of 62 communities nationwide participating in the 2023-2024 NEA Big Read. From February...
NEA Big Read | Discussion of "Beloved" with DK Nnuro promotional image

NEA Big Read | Discussion of "Beloved" with DK Nnuro

Saturday, May 10, 2025 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art
Join us for four discussions of Toni Morrison's Beloved and the exhibition it's a fine thing, led by the Stanley’s curator of special projects and author of What Napoleon Could Not Do, Derek (DK) Nnuro. Register for each session by clicking the dates below, capped at 30 participants:  Feb. 15 (Pages 1 - 59) March 8 (Pages 60 - 195) April 5 (Pages 199 - 277) May 10 (Pages 281 - 324) Iowa City is one of 62 communities nationwide participating in the 2023-2024 NEA Big Read. From February...