Authors and Writers Associations and Organizations
There are many organizations and associations devoted to supporting the Arts and artists. Organizations consist of people who appreciate the arts and wish to promote them, and associations are groups of artists who band together to share information, techniques, and knowledge. Together they promote understanding and appreciation of the Arts as well as the Arts themselves, informing the public as they disburse creative techniques, fresh ideas, and new insights. The guilds and apprenticeships of the Middle Ages are reflected in these groups, as skills are passed from person to person. If you have interest in associations and organizations, visit the links on this page.
Academy of American Poets
The Academy of American Poets has an active membership of poets and supporters who make efforts to widen the audience of American Poetry.
American Booksellers Association
The ABA's online Bookweb is a valuable resource, providing information about their activities and events, with frequently updated book news.
American Library Association
The American Library Association page has a wealth of information on the organization, current library news, web resources, and events.
Artswire.org
Artswire is an knowledge-packed database of information of interest to artists and writers. It is supported by various State Arts agencies.
British Academy, United Kingdom
A prestigious fellowship of scholars, selected for their achievement in one or more branches of the humanities and social sciences in the U.K.
Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska: Nebraska Center for Writers
Academically honored Creighton University offers information on centers, colonies, conferences, programs, readings and writers in Nebraska.
Dia Center for the Arts, New York City, New York
A multi-disciplinary contemporary arts organization, based in New York City, which sponsors arts programs including a poetry reading series
Editorial Freelancers Association
The Editorial Freelancers Association is a nonprofit, professional organization of self-employed workers in publishing and communications.
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.: American Studies Association
This scholarly association is dedicated to the encouragement of research, teaching, and publication on the vast subject of American culture.
Lila Wallace: Reader's Digest Fund
The Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund offers support for programs in performing, visual, literary and folk arts, and literacy instruction.
Modern Language Association
The MLAA is a not-for-profit membership organization established to promote university level study and teaching of language and literature.
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
The National Assembly of State Arts agencies is a non-profit advocacy group for the many state-supported Arts Agencies in the United States.
National Council of Teachers of English
The NCTE, the world's largest subject-matter oriented organization, is devoted to improving the teaching of English and the language arts.
National Writer's Union
The National Writers Union is the trade union for freelance writers in U.S. markets, and has updates on copyright law issues for writers.
New England Foundation for the Arts
NEFA identifies opportunities to develop the arts both regionally and nationally, and tests innovative program ideas in the arts and culture.
Poetry Society of America
The Poetry Society sponsors many programs to expand and enhance the efforts of poets, like Poetry in Motion, which brings poetry into subways.
Poets and Writers: Regional Literary Organization
This resource site provides a helpful list of regional literary organizations. It was developed and is maintained by Poets & Writers Magazine.
Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey: Association of American University Presses
The AAUP is an umbrella organization for many of the university-affiliated journal publishers. The site includes a useful, searchable catalog.
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
SCBWI is a professional organization, created to serve the people who write, illustrate, or share a vital interest in children's literature.
Teachers and Writers Collaborative
T&W brings writers and educators together to explore the links between writing and reading literature that generates new ideas and materials.
United States Library of Congress: United States Copyright Office
Writers and illustrators must protect their own creations. There are things you need to know about copyright law, from the official source.
United States National Endowment for the Arts
The NEA does a great job of showing the federal agency's work in the arts, including feature articles on grant winners and selections from their work
United States National Endowment for the Humanities
A federal agency that supports learning in philosophy, history, literature, and other areas of the humanities through programs and grants.
University of Albany, New York: New York State Writers Institute
The NYSWI provides a variety of literary activities, like visiting writer readings, readings of new plays, and The Writer, a PBS TV series.
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities: Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment
The home page of the ASLE offers news about the organization, its conferences, with hundreds of links to Environmental Lit resources online.
University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: Scholarly Societies Resources Guide
From the University of Waterloo Library comes this informative set of links to pages maintained by or for scholarly societies across the world.
Western States Arts Federation
WESTAF develops and coordinates trans-state projects and services by creating partnerships between arts organizations and arts professionals.
Writers Guild of America
This well-known and respected screenwriter's organization has a site with useful links and articles for anyone planning a career in film.
Writers Guild of America East
This organization is the eastern wing of the screen and TV writers' organization, providing links and resources for members on the East coast.