The Juniper Initiative for Literary Arts & Action houses the many and vibrant literary programs associated with the MFA Program for Poets & Writers. It is dedicated to sustaining and encouraging projects that enrich our literary communities and diversify the opportunities open to students, writers, and readers. Juniper Initiative programming includes:

Visiting Writers Series: a nationally renowned reading series presenting the finest emerging and established writers of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. Recent guests include: Charles Simic, David Berman, Mary Caponegro, George Saunders, Russell Edson, John Yau, John Ashbery, Barry Hannah, Ben Marcus, Jayne Anne Phillips, Paul Mariani, Caroline Knox, Nathaniel Mackey, Joe Wenderoth, Tomaz Salamun, Padgett Powell, Eileen Myles, Matthew Zapruder, Thomas Glave, and William Gass. All readings are free and open to the public. Current VWS schedule

Juniper Literary Festival: Inaugurated in 2000 as the BigSmallPressFest, the festival is a yearly gathering of poets, writers, editors, publishers, scholars, and readers. Dedicated to celebrating exciting new work and exploring issues vital to the literary arts and independent publishing it hosts two days of readings, addresses, panels, and a book and journal fair. Recently, the festival has explored the work of pre-eminent poet John Ashbery, first books, and the intersection of writing and the environment.

The 9th annual Juniper Festival will celebrate the Massachusetts Review' s half century at the forefront of contemporary letters, and the vibrant literary and publishing landscapes of which it is a part. Two days of events will feature readings by emerging and renowned poets, writers, and performance artists; addresses and roundtables; and an independent journal and book fair showcasing an exciting range of local, regional, and national publications. 2009 Festival

Writers in the Schools: an outreach project placing MFA poets and writers in the rural Mohawk Trail school district to bring innovative writing curricula to prek-12 classrooms. Visit the WITS homepage

Hilltown Community Reading Series: a reading series bringing writers into the communities served by Writers in the Schools. Recent participants include WITS instructors, as well as James Tate and Galway Kinnell.

Writers Work: a series of forums exploring the wide range of careers in which writers and other artists apply their skills and pursue their passions. Recent guests include Henry Dunow, Ethan Nosowsky, Bonnie Isman, Alexandra Kennedy, and Chris Edgar. Current Writers Work schedule

jubilat: an acclaimed international poetry journal publishing twice yearly the best in contemporary poetry along with art, interviews, and prose. Visit the jubilat website

The Jones Library/jubilat Reading Series & Poetry Book Group: a community series of book discussions and readings pairing local and regional poets with poets from across the country. Recent readers include Forrest Gander, DA Powell, Lisa Jarnot, Cort Day, and Aafa Michael Weaver, Srikanth Reddy, and Anne Lauterbach. View Jones/jubilat Reading Series. In case of snow please call (413) 545-0643 for updated information or cancellation.

Arts Administration Internship Program: a project matching writers from the University with community literary and arts organizations including presses, community centers, and museums.

Juniper Prize in Poetry: a nationally acclaimed annual book prize for first and subsequent collections of poetry, administered since 1974 with University of Massachusetts Press.

Juniper Prize in Fiction: modeled after the Prize in Poetry, a new national book award for first and subsequent books of fiction, beginning in 2004.

Juniper Fellowships: working fellowships for student writers.

Juniper Summer Writing Institute: a week-long intensive summer residency with acclaimed faculty and writers in residence offering writing workshops, craft forums, and readings. Visit Juniper Summer Writing Institute website

Mission Statement: The Juniper Initiative’s mission is to bring the imaginative and visionary qualities of the literary arts into people’s lives. It approaches this goal through a variety of coordinated efforts including community outreach; programs in primary, secondary and higher education; national publications; literary awards; fellowships; and public art initiatives. In order to have significant arts outreach, the arts themselves must be supported. In order to remain vital, the arts must remain in active dialogue with the world. By providing a home for myriad programs expressive and supportive of the inherent humanity of literary pursuits, the Juniper Initiative serves as both a national focal point and a regional home for literary art and action, working to ensure the vitality, plurality and accessibility of the literary arts in Western Massachusetts and beyond.

Live Lit

Since 1985, students have sponsored Live Lit, a reading series in which poets and fiction writers in the program have an opportunity to hear each other's work. Housed at Amherst Books in downtown Amherst, Live Lit offers camaraderie, literature, and beers for a buck.

Crate

Crate, an online literary magazine, was created in 2001 to showcase the creative work of graduate poets and fiction writers at UMass. Entirely student-run, Crate aims to foster a community of support rooted in familiarity and engagement with the work of MFA students. visit the Crate website