Human beings inherit, create, and share an extraordinary common wealth. The air we breathe and water we drink are fundamental among the countless assets of the natural world we so often take for granted. Discussions about the commons most often involve questions about these natural assets—about public and private land ownership, rights and responsibilities, use and abuse of natural resources. But the many gifts of the commons also include those that are cultural—inventions, folklore, music, works of art, and our incalculable inheritance of ideas. Just as the commonwealth of nature is under threat, so are these gifts of culture.

The shared assets of the commons are vital to the lives of individuals and communities. Privatization and the global economy have diminished many of them and threaten others. But recent years have also seen the burgeoning of farmer’s markets, community gardens, land trusts, open source software, and creative initiatives for the free exchange of ideas—all efforts to sustain an openness in sharing the assets of the commons. The challenge before us, as Lewis Hyde puts it, is “to find an apt balance between private wealth and commonwealth, between proprietary interests and the public domain.”

The 2008 Symposium will explore the remarkable features of the commons, the forces that work against the concept, and the innovative approaches being taken by individuals, groups, and communities to ensure that these shared assets are held as our common wealth for generations to come. Our conversations will inspire new thinking about ways that we, as individuals, can live lives that contribute to and sustain this shared well-being for all.

Guest faculty will be essayist William deBuys from Santa Fe, New Mexico; poet and essayist Alison Deming from Tucson, Arizona; Inupiat tribal advocate Vernita Herdman from Anchorage, Alaska, and essayist Don Snow from Walla Walla, Washington.

The Symposium is a gathering that aims to put both written and oral traditions to the service of ideas. The week’s events invite participants to come together to explore the complex ideas and questions of our theme. Symposium faculty present talks, readings, and panel discussions, and participate in small group discussions. Full-time participants engage directly with faculty and other participants in all these activities. Any writer who enrolls full-time may opt to have a manuscript critique with one of the faculty (submit by May 15).

No more than 60 people will be enrolled full-time so as to foster genuine conversation. We welcome a broad audience of readers, writers—anyone interested—and expect participants from communities around Alaska, the U.S., and elsewhere. All will have opportunities to learn about Tlingit culture and Sitka’s beaches and rainforest.

Register now for the full Symposium and join us for five days of spirited conversation, stories, and music.

Anyone who can’t enroll full-time may attend individual faculty talks and readings. All seven events are included in our series special that you can purchase in advance.

Our Solstice Dinner Cruise featuring Alaska Writer Laureate John Straley is open to the public. Space on the cruise is limited; you can purchase tickets now.

The Symposium also overlaps with the SITKA SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL , allowing Symposium participants to attend two chamber music concerts of this wonderful series.

Several hotels and bed & breakfasts are located in or near downtown Sitka where the Symposium is held. Because June is a popular month to visit Sitka, we recommend reserving accommodations three months in advance.

Contact us with any questions.