Community Institute

 

The Old Symposium Community Institute is a university for commoners. We are built for life-long learners, everyday curious folk, and anyone who wants to get around a table to read and talk together. It's really as simple as that: we've got a big-ass table; we read; we talk about our reading and life together (which, if you didn't know, is all graduate school in the humanities is, with some writing mixed in; you don't have to write here, but you can if you want to).

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The institute offers three community educational formats:

1. Public Lectures: one-time presentations with Q&A; delivered by an invited guest

2. Seminars: 6-8 week discussion series on a given topic; facilitated by an institute staff member or partner; one meeting per week; 10-12 person maximum per session

3. Reading Groups: on-going reading groups focused on rotating titles centered on a particular theme or genre related to the humanities, literature, poetry, art, contemporary social issues or any number of topics that fit with the mission of the institute; facilitated by an institute volunteer

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The institute partners with other organizations, book clubs and community groups focused on reading, learning and community life that wish to use our space and seminar table.

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If you are interested in partnering with us for use of the space for your own group, please email office@oldsymposium.org​

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If you are interested in volunteering to facilitate an Old Symposium-sponsored reading group, please email nick@oldsymposium.org

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