Banned Books Week at Kurt Vonnegut Museum & LIbrary

Discussing the impact of censorship in all its forms. An inspiring week of events as we champion open communication and free expression.
About this Event

Registration for Banned Books Week through our web portal

OCTOBER 4th - 9th, 2026

• Artist-in-Residence: Brian Leung. We are honored to host award-winning author and Purdue English professor Brian Leung. Throughout the week, Professor Leung will live in the museum, participating in discussions and advocating for free speech.

• Film Screening: Sex Radical. Filmmaker Andy Kirshner presents his film examining the life of Ida Craddock and the history of the 1873 Comstock laws that shaped American censorship.
• Exploring Self-Censorship. Author John Hendrickson (Life on Delay: Making Peace with a Stutter) joins us to share his personal journey with shame, fear, and challenging societal attitudes toward disability.
• Community Conversations. Partnering with the ACLU Banned Book Club, we will host an in-depth conversation on Kurt Vonnegut’s frequently challenged novel, Cat’s Cradle.
• Discussing Challenged and Banned Books. In collaboration with The Museum of Tolerance, we are hosting a series of insightful discussions:
• • Dr. Lasana Kazembe (IU Indianapolis Africana Studies) leads a discussion on The 1619 Project, featuring guests Deborah Asante (Asante Art Institute) and Natalie Pipkin (Black Worldschoolers).
  • Sonia Matheus guides a conversation on forgiveness focused on Simon Wiesenthal’s The Sunflower. She will also be playing Trois Ballades Hébraïques by Roman Ryterband with harpist Claire Thai from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
  • KVML Founder & CEO Julia Whitehead explores Kurt Vonnegut’s short story D.P.

Registration for Banned Books Week through our web portal