Phoenix Rising -- A Harry Potter conference

[Kayla Castille]

The spirited city of New Orleans will be the setting for Phoenix Rising,
an academic and educational conference on all things Harry Potter, to be
held May 17-21, 2007. Thats right  its exactly one year away, but its
never too early to begin the wizarding celebration!

The famed Crescent City, herself being reborn in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina, will welcome fans and academics from all over the globe to
celebrate the best-selling book series by J.K. Rowling.

Phoenix Rising seeks to explore the Harry Potter phenomenon through
academic programming  intellectual discussion and debate on the most
famous boy wizard of his time. On top of these formal panels,
presentations and roundtables, the conference adds exploratory education
in a variety of forms, including games, fanfiction readings and an art
gallery. Quidditch will be played on the banks of the Mississippi River
(www.thephoenixrises.org/events/quidditch), and the work of amateur Harry
Potter artists and authors will be shared at our Artists and Authors
Night.

Phoenix Rising will step off on the evening of Thursday, May 17, 2007,
with the Overture Dinner and Gallery Opening. Throughout the weekend,
attendees will venture beyond the Sheraton New Orleans into the city's
famed French Quarter for keynote presentations and evening events,
including the Masquerade Ball at the historic Fairmont Hotel
(www.thephoenixrises.org/events/masqueradeball.html).

Fans can participate in another special way to celebrate the 10th
anniversary of the first Harry Potter novel by leaving their favorite
wizardly memory at the Remembrall Wall
(http://community.livejournal.com/phoenixchat/2242.html). Then, in New
Orleans, attendees will also have the chance to leave their memories
on-site, and theyll be shared with everyone after the conference.

Registration is open and currently costs $140. Phoenix Rising is now
accepting submissions for paper presentations, panels, workshops and
roundtable discussions; the Call for Papers is available at
www.thephoenixrises.org/programming/academic/cfp/.

For more information, visit www.thephoenixrises.org or e-mail
help at .... Laissez les bons temps rouler!


~~~~~~~~
Kayla Castille
Public Affairs Coordinator
Phoenix Rising - A Harry Potter conference
www.thephoenixrises.org