Alberta can oftentimes feel like a land of dichotomies: polarized views on culture, politics, and the economy are just some of the ways in which we differ. But for all of our differences, there is always a resounding sense of community here, especially in the arts sector. This is what makes Alberta so unique, and what brings us to a very important theme we will be incorporating into our 2024 conference programming: literary citizenship. What is literary citizenship, what makes us active literary citizens, and how can all of us writers continue to contribute – in our own way – to the very special literary scene here in our province?

Along with literary citizenship, our 2024 Spring conference – which will include hybrid events — will explore the nuances of writing in various genres, the business of writing, and the art of writing on timely topics like climate change and other important issues; we want to explore what it means to be an Alberta writer now. We look forward to showcasing a plethora of local voices through keynote lectures, workshops, panels, and pre-conference events.