NEA Big Read 250: A Farewell to Arms
Join Casper College for the NEA Big Read 250! Explore Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms” through community events, film screenings, and art exhibits in Casper, Wyoming.
Casper College is proud to announce its selection as a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read grant. In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, we invite the Casper community to join us in reading Ernest Hemingway’s classic, A Farewell to Arms.
Through a series of screenings, discussions, and art exhibitions, we will explore themes of resilience, history, and the veteran experience, connecting Hemingway’s iconic work to our own Wyoming roots.
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026 (Constitution Day) | MU Lobby
Start your journey with us! We’ll be handing out free copies of A Farewell to Arms to reading group participants. Stop by our table in the MU Lobby to grab your book and learn how to get involved.
Don’t have the chance to pick up a book on 9/16? No problem! Visit the Natrona County Library or the Goodstein Foundation Library to pick up a free copy!
Friday, Sept. 18, 2026 | NCPL Crawford Room
Join us for a screening of Crossing the Threshold, a documentary sharing the powerful stories of Wyoming veterans returning to civilian life. A community conversation will follow the film.
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026 | Wyoming Veterans Museum
The Italian Front of World War I ran for almost 400 miles across high alpine terrain between Switzerland and the Isonzo Valley. The Central and Allied Powers fought constantly across the Isonzo between 1915 and 1917, culminating in the Allied defeat at the Battle of Caporetto. Caporetto and its aftermath play a critical role in Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. Join us as we explore the Battle of Caporetto, the events leading up to it, and its legacy.
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026 | Dick and Marialyce Tobin Visual Art Center Lobby]
In collaboration with the college’s GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) opening gala, celebrate the intersection of art and literature with the unveiling of the new Hemingway mural by CC graduate and artist Gabrielle Reeves.
Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 | Multiple Locations
Join a facilitated discussion to share your perspective on the Big Read selection.
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026 | NCPL
A public showing of the 1996 film In Love and War, followed by a panel Q&A featuring Hemingway experts and Casper College faculty.
Fall 2026 | Campus Theatre Lobby
This informational exhibit accompanies the CC theatre production of Last Train to Nibroc. It features Hemingway artifacts, WWI records from the CC archives, and the Hemingway moveable mural.
February – March 2027 | ART 321 Gallery
An exhibition exploring the foundations that ground us. Featuring a book discussion and Q&A with author Chad Hanson on Feb. 4.
Friday, Feb. 5, 2027 | NCPL
An inclusive creativity project tailored for adults with developmental disabilities, featuring a story and craft session connected to the Big Read.
The NEA Big Read, in partnership with Arts Midwest, aims to inspire meaningful conversations and build stronger connections in each community. By focusing on A Farewell to Arms during America’s Semiquincentennial, we honor our country’s culture and Wyoming’s spaces as part of our local and national creative inheritance.
Contact Information
For more information about the NEA Big Read 250 at Casper College, please contact: Katrina Brown | katrina.brown@caspercollege.edu or 307-268-2036 or Julia Whyde | Julia.whyde@caspercollege.edu or 307-268-2537.