We're excited to announce this year's PRELIMINARY schedule of events. While this is not set in stone yet, it will give you a good idea of when things are happening!

[time corrected on #1]

This year, we’re delighted to offer two writing workshops, open to all (no writing submission required to attend) but with limited signup. Sign-up before the convention is highly recommended.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, it looks as though we will sell out of guest rooms at the Westin Waterfront, so Arisia has signed a contract with the Doubletree Hotel Boston - Downtown as this year's overflow hotel. We hope to find rooms for most of the people on the waiting list, but unfortunately we can't accommodate everyone, and there are no double rooms left in the Westin at all. If you would more information about the overflow hotel, please visit http://2011.arisia.org/OverflowHotel.

In the past few weeks, the Programming team has been busy updating program participant schedules. The changes we have made were based mainly upon participant feedback and availability, but include other factors as well. If you are an Arisia 2011 program participant, please check your schedule by logging into the Programming web page with your existing Badge ID and password at:

These professors will be on a Satoshi Kon Legacy panel run somewhat like "The View" Sunday at 12:30pm in Stone Room.

Tomoko Shimizu is a professor of English literature and cultural studies and media and globalization at the University of Tsukuba located in Ibaraki, Japan. Currently she is a visiting scholar at Harvard University's Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies, researching the Japan Media Network and the Anime Culture.