PEN American Center was founded in 1922 and is the largest of the 144 PEN centers in 101 countries that together compose International PEN.  PEN’s mission is situated where the interests of literature intersect with those of freedom-of-expression.  PEN New England is the most active chapter of PEN American Center. To learn more about the history of PEN, click here.

We serve the interests of the reading and writing community with a year round calendar of events, all of which are free and open to the public.  PEN New England is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization governed by a board of directors.  We rely on contributions and membership dues to sustain our programs.