Janis Ian
"Breaking Silence"
A weekend celebration and event from October 17-20, 2024
Most schools build million-dollar stadiums. Berea builds million-dollar students.
In honor of The Janis Ian Archives opening in 2024, Berea College and Ian are putting on a weekend-long event (October 17-20, 2024). The event mirrors the archive tour experience, bringing in musical artists and famous friends to create a once-in-a-lifetime event.
The Janis Ian Archives
The Janis Ian Archives is a unique resource for music history research, offering unfettered access to Ian’s life, publishing, and recording. Beginning with her grandparents’ immigration papers, circa 1916, the Archives will follow the journey of Ian’s 1937 Martin D-18 guitar, chronicle the HUAC years with insights into her parents’ FBI files (and what FBI surveillance cost Ian’s family over the decades), and then travel through the civil rights, women’s, and LGBTQ movements. Visitors to the Archives can view Ian’s correspondence with other musical artists, famous friends, and collaborators.
…Knowledge is the greatest gift you can offer.
Guests of Honor
Peter has been a professional photographer for over 30 years. His teachers include Baptist fisherman Lester Tate, dancer Martha Myers, French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, Zen Master Bernie Glassman and singer-songwriter Janis Ian. Peter has exhibited his photographs and still films in New York, Krakow, London, Paris, Tokyo, Jerusalem, Kigali, Nanjing, Beijing, Berlin and Grand Manan, Canada. His clients include singers, teachers, chefs, playwrights, athletes, accountants, actors, fishermen and clowns.
Award-winning poet, essayist, and translator Jane Hirshfield is the author of 10 collections of poetry, including The Asking: New and Selected Poems (2023); Ledger (2020); The Beauty (2015), longlisted for the National Book Award; Come, Thief (2011), a finalist for the PEN USA Poetry Award; and Given Sugar, Given Salt (2001), and a finalist for the National Book Critics Award. Hirshfield is also the author of two collections of essays, Nine Gates: Entering the Mind of Poetry (1997) and Ten Windows: How Great Poems Transform the World (2015).
Award-winning director Varda Bar-Kar is of Jewish descent born in England to a South African mother and a Romanian father. She had traveled the world and lived in Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States by the time she was 10 years old. Her international upbringing provides her with a global perspective and a deep appreciation and love for diverse peoples and cultures. She is an “artivist” filmmaker focusing her creative lens on meaningful stories exploring the breadth and diversity of the human condition. She faces society’s challenges with an uplifting approach that speaks to possibility.
Silas House is the New York Times bestselling author of seven novels – Clay’s Quilt [2001], A Parchment of Leaves [2003], The Coal Tattoo [2005], Eli the Good [2009], Same Sun Here [2012], including his most recent, Lark Ascending, and is the winner of the 2023 Southern Book Prize and the 2023 Nautilus Book Award. In 2022, he received the Duggins Prize, the most significant award for an LGBTQ writer nationwide. He was named Appalachian of the Year in a nationwide poll the same year. He serves as the 2023-2025 Poet Laureate of Kentucky. He is also a Grammy finalist as the producer and creative director of the Tyler Childers video “In Your Love,” earning nominations from the Grammys, the Academy of Country Music, and the Country Music Television Awards, as well as becoming a #1 video on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube. Silas House is a distinguished professor at Berea College.
Event Schedule
(subject to revision)
Thursday, October 17
| 12 – 7 p.m. | VIP Welcome Center – Maps, Merch Boone Tavern Skylight Room | VIP |
| 4 p.m. | VIP Check-in Boone Tavern Skylight Room | VIP |
| 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. | VIP Welcome Reception, cash bar and light appetizers Boone Tavern Event Center | VIP |
| 4 – 6 p.m. | General Admission Check-in Seabury Center Circle, bell hooks Way | ALL |
Merch Center available until 6 pm
Boone Tavern Skylight Room
Friday, October 18
| 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. | VIP Breakfast Boone Tavern, Event Center *General Admission Package includes breakfast and dinner at Berea College Mountaineer Dining on October 18th and 19th. | VIP | |
| 9 a.m. | Janis Ian Archives Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Hutchins Library Entry Steps | ALL | |
| 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Janis Ian Archives Atrium Experience Hutchins Library, Atrium A self-guided introduction to the world of Janis Ian – you may never want to leave it. | ALL | |
| 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Guided Archives Tours (VIP Exclusive) Hutchins Library, Rm. TBA Be among the very first to experience the Janis Ian Archives. This is an opportunity to view additional items from the Janis Ian Archives up close. White gloves are not required, neither is registration. Come and go as your schedule allows. | VIP | |
| 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Janis Ian Archival Footage Showcase Hutchins Library, Rm. TBA Drop by throughout the day to watch recordings from Janis Ian’s public addresses and concerts. | ALL | |
| 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | bell hooks Center Open House – Refreshments available Draper Building, First Floor, Rm. 106 | ALL | |
| 12 p.m. | Lunch – Dining on your own Area dining options include The Historic Boone Tavern (Please make a reservation) and other local favorites HERE. | ALL | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Masterclass with Peter Cunningham Hutchins Library, Rm. TBA | ALL | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Masterclass with Jane Hirshfield Woods-Penniman Commons | ALL | |
| 5 p.m. | Dinner – Dining on your own Area dining options include The Historic Boone Tavern (Please make a reservation) and other local favorites HERE. *General Admission Package includes breakfast and dinner at Berea College Mountaineer Dining on October 18th and 19th. | ALL | |
| 5 - 6 p.m. | VIP Reception with cash bar, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, and heavy appetizers Boone Tavern Event Center | VIP | |
| 6 p.m. | Carillon Concert (open to the public) – some seating available Draper Lawn | ALL | |
| 7 p.m. | The Pearl Project (A working title) Theatre Production (begins at 7:30 pm) The McGaw Theater, Jelkyl Drama Center VIP preferred seating Post-Party conversation with cast *Red carpet photos (7 -7:30 pm) | ALL |
Merch Center available from Noon to 6 p.m.
Boone Tavern Skylight Room
Saturday, October 19
| 8 a.m. | VIP Breakfast Alumni Building, Baird Lounge *General Admission Package includes breakfast and dinner at Berea College Mountaineer Dining on October 18th and 19th. | VIP |
| 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Janis Ian Archives Atrium Experience Hutchins Library Atrium A self-guided introduction to the world of Janis Ian – you may never want to leave it. | ALL |
| 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Janis Ian Archives Open House Hutchins Library, Rm. TBA This is an opportunity to view additional items from the Janis Ian Archives up close. White gloves are not required, neither is registration. Come and go as your schedule allows. | ALL |
| 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Janis Ian Archival Footage Showcase Hutchins Library, TBA Drop by throughout the day to watch recordings from Janis Ian’s public addresses and concerts. | ALL |
| 10 a.m. | Carillon morning concert with refreshments (Open to community) Draper Building Lawn Hot cider served. | ALL |
| 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | VIP Private screening of a work in progress documentary about Janis Ian Planetarium, Margaret A. Cargill Natural Sciences and Health Building Exclusive Preview – NO RECORDING OR PHOTOGRAPHY PERMITTED | VIP |
| 12 – 12:30 p.m. | VIP Meet & Greet and Discussion with documentarian Varda Bar-Kar and Janis Ian following film Margaret A. Cargill Natural Sciences and Health Building 4th floor Yahng Discovery Center | VIP |
| 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. | Private screening of a work-in-progress documentary about Janis Ian Margaret A. Cargill Natural Sciences and Health Building 4th floor Planetarium Exclusive Preview – NO RECORDING OR PHOTOGRAPHY PERMITTED | ALL |
| 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. | Private screening of a work-in-progress documentary about Janis Ian Margaret A. Cargill Natural Sciences and Health Building 4th floor Planetarium Exclusive Preview – NO RECORDING OR PHOTOGRAPHY PERMITTED | ALL |
| 5 – 6:30 p.m. | Dinner – Dining on your own Area dining options include The Historic Boone Tavern (Please make a reservation) and other local favorites HERE. *General Admission Package includes breakfast and dinner at Berea College Mountaineer Dining on October 18th and 19th. | |
| 7 p.m. | Janis Ian Tribute Concert with Special Guest Emcee, Silas House Featuring performances by Berea College students, faculty, and headliner (TBA). Phelps Stokes | ALL |
Merch Center available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Boone Tavern Skylight Room
*Exclusively for VIP and General Admission
Sunday, October 20
| 10 am | VIP Farewell Reception with Coffee and Conversation Boone Tavern Skylight Room | VIP |
Merch Center available from 9 a.m. to Noon
Boone Tavern Skylight Room
Location
Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Berea is a place where art, craft, music and the imagination thrive.
Hotels and Accommodations
Berea, KY offers a variety of hotels, lodging, and unique accommodations.
On-campus Accommodations (first-come, first-served)
We have secured a limited number of rooms at Historic Boone Tavern within easy walking distance of all events. Boone Tavern Hotel offers a discounted rate for Breaking Silence guests who call in or book online at https://boonetavernhotel.com/ using the Group ID Code 259660. Our special host, Donna Brewer, can be reached at (859) 985-3702. She will return all calls within 48 hours. Email questions to Ms. Brewer at dbrewer@boonetavern.com. To receive the discounted rate, you must indicate you are attending the Breaking Silence celebration.
Food
VIP breakfast and VIP receptions included in the VIP Package.
Breakfast and dinner on October 18th and 19th at Mountaineer Dining is included in the General Admission Package.
Hours for Mountaineer Dining:
Breakfast 7-10:30 a.m.
Lunch 11-2:30 p.m.
Grill/Salad/Pizza Lunch 2:30-5:00 p.m.
Dinner 5-9:00 p.m.
Berea is one of the fastest-growing towns in Kentucky, so dining options are aplenty. On campus, there is restaurant in Boone Tavern (reservation suggested/limited seating-book with OpenTable), Mountaineer Dining Hall, Sandella's Flatbread Cafe, The Farm Store, The Pinnacles Cafe, as well as a suite of local eateries on College Square. Local foodie fare includes Native Bagel/Nightjar, Apollo Pizza, Papaleno’s, Doña Maria's Tamales, and Honeysuckle Dining and Bourbon House among others.
Travel
- Ground transport: https://www.airport.guide/klex/shuttle
- Rental cars: https://www.bluegrassairport.com/rental-cars/
- Nearest airport/Bluegrass (LEX): https://www.airport.guide/klex/airlines
- Berea’s distance to major cities: https://visitberea.com/faq/
More Details
Mountaineer Dining for breakfast and dinner on October 18th and 19th is included in the General Admission Package.
VIP breakfast and VIP receptions included in VIP Package.
Upon purchase of a package, you will receive your ticket. One month prior to the event, you will receive additional details via email. Please see info above for transportation, lodging, and additional dining.
Contact breakingsilence@berea.edu with any questions.
Reserve your spot
Reserve your place for a weekend of fun, food, and festivities.