Frequently Asked Questions

The following information will help to answer any questions that you might have about Festival 2012 (April 19-21). If you have a question that is not covered here, please contact us.

What are the dates of the next Festival?
The next Festival of Faith and Writing is scheduled for April 19-21, 2012, at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Do I have to be a writer to attend the Festival?
Certainly not. The Festival is designed to be a place where readers and writers can come together to participate in the ongoing discussion about faith in our world today. Authors, readers, and anyone interested in religion and spiritual understanding as it relates to literature is invited to join us and be part of the celebration.

How do you decide which authors to invite?
Our mission statement will give you a good idea of where we stand with that. We are always eager for your suggestions. Contact us with any comments or ideas for people you'd like to see invited to future Festivals.

How much does it cost to attend Festival 2012? 
The registration cost is $195. Student registration is $80. Organized groups (of six or more people) qualify for a group rate of $160 per person when registering prior to March 15, 2012.

What is the registration deadline?
Registration for Festival 2012 closes on April 1, 2012.  

Are any scholarships available?
Scholarships are available for Calvin alumni, Calvin Theological Seminary students, and Calvin English majors and minors. 

How do I register?
You can register by going directly to the secure, online registration form. You may also want to visit the Festival registration page for more information. If you are having trouble, please call the Festival office at 616.526.6770. 

What is included in a Festival registration?
A Festival registration includes all concurrent sessions and all plenaries (Gary Schmidt, Jonathan Safran Foer, Marilynne Robinson, Shane Claiborne, Chimamanda Adichie). The registration fee does not include meals, lodging, and tickets for the evening concerts and evening performances.

How much is registration if I can attend Festival for only one day?
We are unable to provide reduced registrations for people who can attend Festival 2012 for only one day. Full registration is required to attend Festival sessions.

What if I only want to hear one speaker?
Individual tickets for the keynote lectures (Thursday evening/Jonathan Safran Foer, Friday evening/Marilynne Robinson, Saturday morning/Shane Claiborne, Saturday evening/Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) are now on sale through the Calvin College Box Office (616.526.6282). All other sessions will be available only with a Festival registration. 

What is your cancellation policy?
If you are unable to attend the Festival and notify us by March 16, 2012, we will refund 85 percent of your registration fee. After that, we will refund 50 percent. Note, however, that we are unable to issue any refunds after April 9, 2012. Cancellation requests must be received in writing (either by postal or electronic mail). Please include your full mailing address.

If I am a student but do not attend Calvin College, do I still qualify for the student rate?
Yes. Students from any school qualify for the student registration rate.

Are school groups welcome at the Festival of Faith and Writing keynote events?
Yes, we welcome people of all ages to attend talks by our keynote speakers. Tickets will be available through the Calvin College Box Office.

Where can I find a list of the literary editors and agents who are attending the Festival?
Many (but not all) of the publishers coming to Festival 2012 choose to bring their editors, but the Festival does not keep a list of which editors and agents will be in attendance. If the editors do come, they arrange their own meetings with aspiring writers during the Festival. For a list of publishers coming to the Festival, please visit our exhibitor page.

Is on-campus lodging available?
On-campus housing is available for students from other universities, colleges, and high schools only. If you are a student who is interested in staying on campus, please contact the Festival office (ffw@calvin.edu). All rooms in the Prince Conference Center are reserved for our speakers and are not available to the public.

How do I get on the mailing list?
Although we do offer a limited number of mailings, a better way to keep updated with the Festival is by subscribing to the Festival e-mail newsletter. The newsletter, called Festival News, is sent out on the 1st of each month. If you would like to subscribe to Festival News, please fill out the online form or e-mail us at ffw@calvin.edu.

Where can I get video/audio recordings of past Festival sessions?
You may contact the Festival office to find out if there is a recording of the event.