The Connecticut Literary Festival is produced by students and staff at Central Connecticut State University. Under the leadership of professor Jotham Burrello, the festival serves readers and writers from Connecticut and beyond producing online Lit Talks!, publishing the CT Literary Anthology, and curating an on-ground festival. Each fall the festival takes over all five galleries at Real Art Ways in Hartford. Each space offers programming and prose including an interactive typewriter gallery. A literary carnival all under one roof. Thank you to our individual, non-profit and corporate partners.
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Festival Director

Jotham Burrello

Advisory Board

Mary Collins
Ken Cormier
Aimee Pozorski
Colin Hosten
Sergio Troncoso
Pieter Roos
Susan Schoenberger
Diane Vivona

Festival Staff

Victoria Juniet
Anna Christiano
Julia Wnuk
Caroline Kilian
Danny Contreras
Christopher Morris
Hayley Fiedler
Kristiana Torres

Business Administration

Darlene Gable

Directions to Real Art Ways

Real Art Ways is located at 56 Arbor Street, Hartford, Connecticut.
From I-91 North or South
Take I-84 West in Hartford. Follow directions below.
From I-84 West or I-84 East
Take Exit 46 onto Sisson Avenue. Turn left onto Sisson Avenue. Turn left onto Capitol Avenue. Take the third right onto Arbor Street. Turn left at the big brick building, and then turn into the driveway marked with the RAW sign. Follow the drive to the back.
FastTrack bus service available, click here to plan your trip.

Event Parking

Free parking is available in the Real Art Way lot off of Arbor Street. Additional free street parking is available on Orange, Arbor, and Capitol Streets. (Always obey posted parking signs.)

Covid Safety Reminders for Festival Visit

Exposure to Covid-19 is an inherent risk in any public location where people are present; we cannot guarantee you will not be exposed during your visit.
The CDC advises that older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from Coronavirus. Folks attending the festival should evaluate their own risk in determining whether to attend. People who show no symptoms can spread Coronavirus if they are infected, any interaction with the general public poses an elevated risk of being exposed to Coronavirus. By coming to the Festival, you acknowledge and agree that you assume these inherent risks associated with attendance. We advise unvaccinated children occupy the outdoor spaces at the festival. Thank you. Be Safe. Read On.

Anti-Harassment Policy

The Connecticut Literary Festival presents fun, smart, diverse, inclusive, and sometimes irreverent programming celebrating the written word, writers, and readers. Our fair features booksellers and magazines. Attendance is free and open to the general public, and as such, no disruptive or harassing behavior will be tolerated on festival grounds. If you are experiencing disruptive, discriminatory, or harassing behavior, please either find a festival staff member, contact us anonymously after the event via email, or call 9-1-1.