Plume Winnipeg

Our purpose is to strengthen and support a broad reading community by curating and presenting two annual festivals celebrating writers and reading, as well as by acting as a reading resource. To serve those ends, we showcase quality writing, we create forums for conversation, creativity, and learning, and we share our enthusiasm.

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Events

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Our Festivals

THIN AIR Festival

THIN AIR / LIVRES EN FÊTE is an annual fall celebration of books and writing. Discover some of the most exciting new books, both English and French, from writers across Canada and beyond. Our line-up is eclectic! Event highlights include Niizhotay Stories, Afternoon Book Chats, the Haiku Death Match, La Plume et le pinceau, our evening MainStages, and more. Spend some time with fascinating people, and find your new favourite book! 

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THIN AIR Kids Festival

THIN AIR KIDS / Livres en fête juniors is the new addition to our programming. In the middle of February, we celebrate I Love to Read Months with three days of readings and book-related activities in English and French, for kids of all ages—and their families. We’re investing in future writers, dreamers, leaders, citizens! 

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What’s New

  • SUBMISSIONS CLOSED: Writes of Spring 10th Anniversary!

    2025 is the 10th year of Writes of Spring. Over 100 poems by Manitoba writers have appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press, sharing their vision of who we are and where we live. To celebrate, this year there will be NO THEME. That’s right, you can submit a short poem on ANY THEME. As long…

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  • Thanks for coming to THIN AIR / Livres en fête 2024 !

    We would like to extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this year’s celebration of books possible. The entire THIN AIR / Livres en fête team salutes our writers, hosts, partners, volunteers, sponsors, venues, and especially to our audience and community. We couldn’t have done it without you! You can do one big favour for us…

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  • THIN AIR / Livres en fête 2024 starts today

    Today is the day we’ve all been waiting for! It’s September 20, and we are thrilled to kick off our much-anticipated 12-day writers festival, a celebration of books and stories, creativity and community! From today through October 1, we invite you to be part an unforgettable journey through the world of words, featuring a diverse lineup of…

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Browse Our Series

Find out more about all the programming we do! 

Speaking Crow

Speaking Crow is our monthly poetry open mic series happening the first Tuesday of the month. Most gatherings kick off with a reading from a Manitoba poet, followed by an open mic. Most of our meetings are in person, but we also have lively international gatherings online several times each year. Bring your poems for three minutes at the mic! 

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Voices in the Circle

We champion Indigenous writers in all of our programming streams, and make them easier for interested readers to find by gathering under the banner of Voices in the Circle.

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Writes of Spring

Writes of Spring is our April collaboration with Ariel Gordon and the Free Press, celebrating National Poetry Month. An annual open submission results in a curated group of original poems published in the Free Press with a public launch. 

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Our Supporters

Contribute

Want to lend a hand to a feisty non-profit with big dreams? 

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You love books. We love books. We believe that books and ideas deserve to circulate freely and that healthy exchange is at the heart of healthy communities. That belief underscores our determination to present events which are low cost or free. Please support our efforts to keep our year-round programming open to all! We’re a registered non-profit with a great record of fiscal responsibility, and will put your gift to good use. Donate now. You’ll receive a tax receipt along with an extra helping of gratitude from all of us! 

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Volunteer

Volunteers are the backbone of public events, and we treasure ours! If you are outgoing, fun, love to read, and just want to give a little something back to your community, you might be a perfect fit for us. Take a moment to register in our volunteer portal and let us get to know you! 

Apply Here!
This is an awesome festival! I love that it raises awareness about reading and writing, keeping the arts alive.
– THIN AIR audience memberCompany Name
Canada is blessed with a healthy literary circulatory system and Plume Winnipeg is one of the ventricles at the heart of it.
– Corina Eberle, Douglas & McIntyre PublicistCompany Name
Plume Winnipeg challenges, excites and pushes me out of my reading comfort zone, opening a big wide world where I can engage with words, ideas and stories (and the people who write them) in fun and inspiring ways that genuinely change the way I look at the world–and my own community.
– Joanne Kelly, Creative Communications instructor at Red River Polytechnic & book reviewer/enthusiastCompany Name
Candid, passionate, insightful—so ​lovely to hear authors share their passions and world perspectives.
– THIN AIR audience memberCompany Name
Merveilleux! Très intime et intéressant! Merci!
– Membre de l’audience de Livres en fêteCompany Name
THIN AIR is one of the most exciting and diverse literary festivals I’ve been a part of, from year to year. They’ve got a great team, and a great vision.
– David A Robertson, award-winning Canadian writerCompany Name
THIN AIR is rich air! Even as an online participant, I enjoyed feeling like I was part of this literary hubbub in and from Winnipeg.
– Erín Moure, award-winning Canadian poet and translatorCompany Name
Candid, passionate, insightful—so ​lovely to hear authors share their passions and world perspectives.
– THIN AIR audience memberCompany Name
As a writer, reader and presenter, I’ve enjoyed THIN AIR events for years. From outdoor readings to seeing Margaret Atwood on stage to live readings and panel discussions, there’s an endless list of experiences made possible by the hard work, creativity and enthusiasm of the team.
– Colleen Nelson, award-winning Canadian children’s authorCompany Name
Serendipity. Right place, right time. (My guardian angel and internal GPS were working correctly!
– THIN AIR audience memberCompany Name

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