Come hear six of the area's finest storytellers as we join story lovers around the country to celebrate the art of oral storytelling! Tellabration! in the Twin Cities is an annual fundraiser for Story Arts of MN and the National Storytelling Network. Donating their time and talent to entertain us will be Brother Asé, Stacy Parish, Roya Taylor, Trần Thị Mình Phước, Trần Huyền Trần, Leif Wallin, and emcee Howard Lieberman.
Give To The Max is open for donations
Give to the Max Day is November 16, but the campaign is open now for early giving. Any day that SAM receives a donation, we’ll be entered in a lottery to win a $500 cash prize. So we appreciate your gifts to us via GTMD any time between now and November 16.
GTMD is an easy and effective way to support the nonprofits you care about. “Give to the Max started 15 years ago as a one-time launch party for the new GiveMN.org,” said Jake Blumberg, executive director of GiveMN. “That idea sparked an outpouring of generosity each year, as hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have invested nearly $300 million in Minnesota causes through this annual giving holiday.”
SAM will use the money raised through GTMD to make our annual all-day StoryFest even better. At StoryFest, we offer a full day of performances, workshops, and open mics. Everyone’s invited and it’s free! But it does cost money to produce the event and to assure that it’s welcoming to all. Your generosity can help us reach our goals for StoryFest:
In 2024, we aim to produce TWO StoryFests, one in Bloomington in May and one in Austin (still in the early planning phase).
We want to continue and expand our productive partnerships with organizations like the Bloomington Center for the Arts, Mill City Museum, the American School of Storytelling, and COMPAS.
We want to keep showcasing the use of storytelling by cultural and media organizations in our communities that amplify diverse voices and reach new audiences in the Twin Cities and beyond.
We need to make StoryFest accessible to everyone—by keeping it free to attend, by hiring ASL interpreters, by providing printed programs, and more.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR DONATIONS of $100 or MORE
Whatever you choose to give, we are grateful. If you donate $100 or more, you will receive an invitation for two to a private Valentine-themed storytelling soirée, featuring love stories told by SAM members, along with tasty treats and drinks. Date and place to be determined. It's our way to show YOU the same love you show US!
Support SAM on Give to the Max Day
Storytelling changes lives and uplifts communities. That’s why Story Arts of Minnesota’s biggest event of the year is a day-long StoryFest—a community gathering with a full schedule of entertaining performances, stimulating workshops, and welcoming open mics.
Some years, we benefit from state and regional grants and robust local sponsorships. This year, however, we need to raise additional funding. Give to the Max Day, November 16, raises significant money for non-profits all across Minnesota. By actively participating, SAM will be eligible for monetary prize drawings that can amplify the generosity of our donors.
Donations to SAM on GTMD will be targeted to strengthen and grow our successful StoryFest event. Your contributions will fund creative outreach to story lovers of all ages, expand accessibility, and allow us to continue offering StoryFest as a FREE program for everyone.
Mark your calendar now for StoryFest 2024 on Saturday, May 4, at the Bloomington Center for the Arts.
And on November 16, please take part in GTMD and give as generously as you are able to help spread the joy of storytelling! (Donate $100 or more, and you’ll be invited to a private “storytelling soirée” – more details on that will be forthcoming!)
Nov. 18: Tellabration!™
Save the date for Tellabration!™ 2023! This year we’re gathering at the new AMSStory space for our annual storytelling concert and fundraiser to benefit SAM and the National Storytelling Network. Founded by NSN, Tellabration!™ is a much-anticipated yearly celebration of the story arts that takes place in many venues all across the country.
In addition to being entertained by accomplished storytellers who showcase the range of the craft, you’ll have the chance to bid on unique items in a silent auction.
As plans solidify, we’ll list the tellers and provide more information here and on social media. In the meantime, please hold the date!
Oct. 16: New in-person open mic!
Story Arts is pleased to a announce a new monthly storytelling open mic in Minneapolis, produced in partnership with the American School of Storytelling. The first open mic will take place on October 16 at AMSStory, the school’s performance and workshop space, 1762 Hennepin Ave South, Minneapolis. This ongoing monthly series will take place on the 3rd Monday of the month.
Here’s how it works:
Up to 10 Tellers. 10 minutes each. Any style- traditional, personal, braided. etc. Sign-up will be first come, first serve. No tickets; donations are requested.
Doors at 6:30, show at 7pm. Please do not park on Hennepin Ave before 6pm as you will get towed!
PS: Our monthly ONLINE open will continue through December 2023. Find details at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/story-circles-online-storytelling-open-mics-716329
Sept. 28-30: 33rd Annual Black Master Storyteller Festival
The Black Storytellers Alliance presents its 33rd annual Black Master Storytellers Festival in Minneapolis on three nights in late September. This year the festival showcases renowned African American and African tellers Toni Simmons, Dr. Nokugcina Mhlophe [pictured], Mitch “Gran’daddy Junebug” Capel, Nothando Zulu, Kunama Mtendaji, and Valerie Tutson. Also known as “Signifyin’ and Testifyin’,” the festiva l is one of the highlights of the storytelling year in Minnesota.
All events are free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Visit https://blackstorytellers.com/ for more information, including bios of the storytellers.
The festival includes free Friday concerts for school classes. Teachers can find all the details and reserve space for their classes at https://blackstorytellers.com/school-concerts/.
Schedule
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Opening Ceremony Storytelling Concert - 6:30 – 9:00 PM
Perpich Center for Arts Education
Friday, September 29, 2023
Liars Contest 6:30 – 9:30 PM
The Capri Theater
Saturday, September 30, 202
Grand Finale Storytelling Concert - 6:30 – 9:30 PM
Studio 900
Annual Meeting Recap and Slides
On June 29, 2023, Story Arts of Minnesota held its annual membership meeting. The meeting took place online, with 18 members present. The slide show below summarizes our organization’s activities over the past year and incorporates some plans and ideas that were discussed for the coming year.
Four new board members were elected: Danielle Daniel, Joshua Gillespie (Brotha Asè), Howard Lieberman, and Nicholas Pawlowski. The full board roster can be found at https://www.storyartsmn.org/board-of-directors.
Following the official meeting, members engaged in a lively story swap.
Thank you to everyone who participated! We look forward to another year of good fun and creativity as we advance SAM’s mission: to promote the art of storytelling and to develop and support storytellers, in Minnesota and beyond!
June 29: Annual Story Swap & Membership Meeting
Annual Story Swap & Membership Meeting
Thursday, June 29, 7pm
Some necessary brief reports, Q&A, a little voting, a lot of story sharing!
Story Arts of Minnesota's bylaws mandate an annual meeting of the membership, and it's a good thing. The annual meeting is a time to renew connections, catch up on news from the storytelling community, learn what SAM has done and is planning, give your input, and elect board members for the coming year.
And because we're the leading statewide organization with a broad mission to promote storytelling and support those who practice and love it, of course we'll leave plenty of time on the agenda for a story swap!
If you're not already a member, please come anyway and check us out.
Story Circle open mics continue online through the summer
SAM’s monthly storytelling open mics will continue on Zoom through the summer. We gather virtually on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7pm Central US/Canada time for an hour of story sharing. There’s no theme, no competition, no coaching — just appreciation for your seven-minute story in any genre. Since starting these sessions during the COVID lockdown, we’ve heard folktales from all regions of the world; many true first-person stories; stories read aloud; stories recited in rhyme; old favorites and stories making their first public appearance. We are open to both experienced and novice tellers, and we welcome you to simply be a part of the audience if you prefer. And you don’t have to hail from Minnesota to participate! It’s free, but you must register to receive the Zoom link. Find more and sign up at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/story-circles-online-storytelling-open-mics-716329
Many people made StoryFest a great day!
For one glorious day and evening, story lovers filled the meeting rooms and theaters of the Bloomington Center for the Arts. We made and renewed friendships, chatted with exhibitors, munched on eggrolls and tacos, and told and listened to story after story. We were entertained. Our thoughts were provoked. Our hearts were opened.
Thank you to everyone who made StoryFest 2023 a success! Planners, presenters, storytellers, audience members, donors, PSA recorders, table movers, sign hangers, greeters, folder stuffers, food truck vendors, technology wranglers, exhibitors... the list goes on and on. You ALL had a part in creating a day filled with stories and joy!
We’re especially grateful to the organizations that donated money or in-kind services, starting with the City of Bloomington, which partnered with SAM to provide a beautiful and functional setting for learning and listening. Funds from the Givens Foundation for African American Literature (given in memory of storyteller Beverly Cottman), the Sandbar Storytelling Festival, and the American School of Storytelling helped us to pay the performers and workshop leaders. KFAI-FM donated studio and air time for promotional announcements.
Truly, it takes the proverbial village to make StoryFest happen. THANK YOU!
SAM has no staff. Volunteers are our organization’s life blood. If you’d like to join us in planning future SAM events, please drop us a note at storyartsmn@gmail.com.
Meet a StoryFest sponsor: Sandbar Storytelling Festival
Mark you calendars for the second annual Sandbar Storytelling Festival, October 12-14, in Winona, Minnesota. The public festival includes food, workshops, competitions, concerts, and — of course — storytelling at Saint Mary’s University and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Multiple other events are also planned for Winona schools, universities, and other venues throughout Winona.
Some of the nation’s finest storytellers will be performing: Bil Lepp, Diane Ferlatte, Kao Kalia Yang, Kim Weitkamp, Motoko, and Minnesota’s own Kevin Kling.
For updated news about the festival and the special events leading up to it, keep an eye on their website: https://sandbarstorytellingfestival.org/
Meet a StoryFest sponsor: KFAI
KFAI is supporting StoryFest with donated studio and air time for public service announcements about our event. As “a volunteer-based community radio station that exists to broadcast information, arts and entertainment programming for an audience of diverse racial, social and economic backgrounds,” KFAI’s staff and listeners understand the impact of good storytelling. As the station’s mission statement declares, “by providing a voice for people ignored or misrepresented by mainstream media, KFAI increases understanding between peoples and communities, while fostering the values of democracy and social justice.”
KFAI has been broadcasting since 1978 to the greater Twin Cities. The non-commercial station is listener-supported, with over 3,000 members contributing nearly 50 percent of its income. Additional support has come from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the State of Minnesota, Legacy & Cultural Heritage Funding from MN State, the Minneapolis Foundation, and program underwriters.
Listen to KFAI at 90.3 FM or streaming at kfai.org.
Meet a StoryFest partner: Bloomington Parks & Recreation
Bloomington, MN is home to 97 parks and green spaces, miles of trails, dozens of fun, active, inclusive and engaging programs and events, and seasonal and year-round recreational facilities, all adminstered by the city’s Parks and Recreation department—including the Bloomington Center for the Arts, where StoryFest 2023 will be held. The spacious building houses galleries, theaters, art studios, and classrooms, with plenty of inviting space for mingling and networking. There is ample free parking. We’re grateful for the city staff’s enthusiastic assistance in planning and promoting StoryFest. To learn more about upcoming performances and other programs offered by the Parks and Recreation department, please visit their website.
Volunteer at StoryFest!
Many volunteers will be needed at SAM’s all-day festival of storytelling on Saturday, April 29, at the Bloomington Center for the Arts. Please consider serving as a workshop room host or staffing the welcome table. Shifts are 1 to 2 hours long, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy other sessions during the day. Learn more about volunteer duties and choose your shift on our SignUpGenius page. Your help will make the day a success for all!
Meet a StoryFest sponsor: The Givens Foundation for African American Literature
We are delighted to announce that The Givens Foundation for African American Literature is a sponsor of StoryFest 2023, “Shared Stories, Shared World.” The foundation’s generous contribution is made in memory of storyteller Beverly Cottman, who passed away unexpectedly on March 10 while traveling in Egypt. Beverly, known to many as “Auntie Beverly,” was a COMPAS teaching artist and a member of the Black Storytellers Alliance and Story Arts of Minnesota. A memorial statement on the Givens Foundation website notes that “Beverly was a long-time teaching artist with the Archie Givens Sr. Collection for African American Literature and The Givens Foundation for African American Literature, conducting residencies and workshops for all grade levels performing the works of African American authors and illustrators.” Beverly was known for sharing stories, folktales and fables of the African Diaspora with audiences young and old.
The Givens Foundation for African American Literature is dedicated to enriching cultural understanding and learning through programs that advance and celebrate African American literature and writers. It remains the only organization in Minnesota exclusively dedicated to advancing and celebrating black literature and writers. Each year, the foundation serves nearly 5,000 students, educators, readers, and writers. Learn more about their programs at http://www.givens.org/
April 29: StoryFest Morning Workshop Intensives
StoryFest 2023, Shared Stories, Shared World, will kick off on Saturday, April 29, with two 90-minute workshops in the 9:30-11:00 am time slot. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $35, or $30 for SAM members with the promo code. (To obtain the promo code and/or check on the status of your SAM membership, please email us at storyartsmn@gmail.com)
“A Bicycle Built for Two: The Balancing Act That is Tandem Telling” will be presented by Michigan storytellers Jennifer Pahl Otto and Eileen DeLorenzo.
“Larger Than Life: Putting Your Stories on the Stage” will be presented by Allison Broeren, Twin Cities storyteller, teacher, and theater owner.
Find full details and register at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/storyfest-2023-90-minute-intensive-workshops-1915459
March 24: Hear Her Stories
Hear Her Stories
March 26 • 7pm-8:30pm • Mill City Museum • 704 S. 2nd St. Minneapolis
Join Mill City Museum and Story Arts of Minnesota for an evening of storytelling in recognition of Women's History Month.
Hear true stories–funny, poignant, and inspiring–from contemporary women inspired by history and women of the past. Storytellers are:
● Jan Borofka
● Colleen Casey
● Sally Childs
● Hillary Lor
● Oogie_Push
● Tseganesh Selameab
● Roya Taylor
● Nothando Zulu
The evening is hosted by Twin Cities performer Jen Scott.
Doors open at 6:30pm. Pre-sale tickets are available on Mill City Museum’s website at sliding scale price, $10 and up. Door price is $15.
This program is made possible in part by the Emily Anne Staples Tuttle Fund For Women's History and the Rothchild Endowment for Women’s History.
StoryFest 2023 Update & Call for Sponsors
Planning is in full swing for StoryFest 2023, “Shared Stories, Shared World.” Follow updates at https://www.storyartsmn.org/storyfest2023
FEB. 28: Online Story Circle Open Mic
Please join us for our next monthly Story Circle on Zoom on Tuesday, February 28, 7-8pm Central Time. SAM’s newest board member, Molly Jessup, will host this month’s sharing of stories. There’s no theme, no judging — and no cost to participate. But you must register to get the Zoom link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sam-online-story-circle-tickets-509787918387. You’re welcome to tell a 7-minute or shorter story or just listen.
Feb 20 deadline: Call for tellers for "Hear Her Stories"
Mill City Museum, in partnership with SAM, will again host a live, in-person storytelling event in celebration of Women’s History Month 2023. The museum is located in downtown Minneapolis. We are looking for female-identifying performers to tell their true stories, inspired by history and women of the past.
Stories should be no longer than seven minutes. Preference for Minnesota-based stories.
The stories can be personal, familial, or historic (if historic, we’d love to know how this history impacts you!) A variety of tone and content is welcome and encouraged.
We offer an honorarium of $75 for the performance and an additional $25 for dress rehearsal (either on the afternoon of Monday, March 13 or the evening of Wednesday, March 15 - attendance to one of these rehearsals is expected).
An additional benefit of this event is StoryArts of MN will offer story coaching sessions for storytellers of all experience levels. We encourage new storytellers to submit.
The program will be an in-person event on Friday, March 24, 2023 in Mill City Museum’s Mill Commons at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available to the public.
Deadline for submission is by February 20, 2023. Storytellers will be notified by Monday, February 27th if their story has been selected.
Find full details and the form for pitching your story at https://forms.gle/yfyyckddmDHVQfkS9