Griot and Grey Owl Black Southern Writers Conference
The Griot and Grey Owl Black Southern Writers Conference, rooted in Durham, North Carolina, was formed from a need. Far too often Black stories are pushed to the margins, leaving diasporic writers without access or opportunity. Griot and Grey Owl seeks to answer that call. G&G is a three-day writing conference for Black Southern writers packed with world-class workshops, panels and historical tours that cover culture, career and community.
Nov. 10-12, writers will gather to connect with renowned Southern workshop facilitators stationed at historical locations, panels with renowned Southern authors, field trips tethered to the thriving Black Wall Street scene and more! Its goal is that, after a weekend of writing in Durham, attendees will leave the conference energized, empowered and inspired to take the seeds learned at Griot & Grey Owl back to their own communities.
Hourly Schedule
Friday, November 10
- 11:00am - 12:00pm
- Rubenstein Library Art Gallery Tour & Workshop w/ Mandy Carter + Kamau Pope
- 411 Chapel Dr, Durham, NC 27705
- 12:00pm - 1:00 pm
- Lunch for all participants in the Duke Rubenstein Gallery
- 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
- Mahogany L Browne Reading
- Rubenstein Arts Center at Duke University – 2020 Campus Dr, Durham, NC 27708
- 2:30pm - 3:30pm
- Terrance Hayes Reading
- 3:30pm - 4:30pm
- Q&A + Book Signings w/ Mahogany & Terrance
- Rubenstein Arts Center
- 5:00 - 7:00pm
- Dinner Break
- 7:00pm
- The Griot Battle Royale Poetry Slam Competition
- Rubenstein Arts Center
- 9:30 - until
- Mix and Mingle Reception
- Durham Hotel Rooftop
Saturday
- 8:00a - 8:40a
- Opening Breakfast
- 21 C Durham
- 8:45a - 9:30a
- Welcome & Keynote by: Dasan Ahanu
- Durham Arts Council- 111 North Corcoran St, Durham, NC 27701
- 9:30a - 11a
- Workshops/Panels
- 21 C Durham Hotel & Durham Arts Council
- 11:00 a
- Hallmark Craft Talk w/Terrance Hayes
- Line, Breath, and the Word
- 12:00 pm
- Lunch at Queeny’s Burgers
- 1:00pm - 2:00pm
- Panels & Roundtables
- 21 C & Durham Arts Council
- 2:30pm - 3:30pm
- Hallmark Workshop
- Nikky Finney: Writing the Land
- 3:30pm - 5:30pm
- Book Fair & Author Signings at Durham Arts Council
- 5:30pm - 7:00pm
- Dinner
- 7:30pm - 9:15pm
- Black Poet Laureate Palooza at North Star Church of the Arts
- 9:30pm - 11:30pm
- Spoken Word/Performance Showcase
- North Star Church of the Arts & AfterParty
Sunday
- 8:30a - 10am
- Yoga
- 10am - 12:30pm
- Closing Brunch w/ Meditation Moment & Poetry Reading by: adrienne maree brown
- 12:30pm
- Healing Workshop w/ adrienne maree brown
