Nov. 21: Give to the Max for StoryFest 2025!

Early giving is open now for the statewide Give to the Max annual fundraiser for schools and nonprofit organizations. We’re excited to announce that, a full week ahead of the big push on Give to the Max Day, November 21, SAM has already raised over one-third of its goal of $1,500!

The money raised through this campaign will support StoryFest 2025 at the Bloomington (MN) Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 26. During this annual community celebration of the power of story, both professional and novice tellers gather with audiences for a full day of performances, workshops, and open mics. Attendees of all ages  share the wonder and insights sparked by the ancient (but always fresh) practice of oral storytelling.

Your generosity will help us:

• Showcase storytelling to amplify diverse voices and reach new audiences in the Twin Cities and beyond.

• Assure StoryFest is accessible by keeping it free to attend, by hiring ASL interpreters, by providing both online and printed programs, and more.

• Expand partnerships with organizations like the Bloomington Center for the Arts, the American School of Storytelling, and COMPAS.

Please donate generously, but be assured that even the smallest gift will carry us closer to our goal. SAM is grateful for every dollar, every volunteer hour, every word of encouragement as we carry out our mission: to promote the art of storytelling, and to develop and support storytellers. Our purpose is straightforward, and its outcomes are profound. Storytelling changes lives and uplifts communities.

Nov. 9: Saturday Morning Stories with Pam Schweitzer & Sue Searing

SAM continues to partner with Badger Hill Brewing to offer a free family story hour on the second Saturday of the month. Join Pam Schweitzer and Sue Searing as they use participatory stories and art to help kids prepare for World Kindness Day on November 13. There will be free snacks for the kids. Parents can purchase coffee or beer and pastries. No cover charge!

Badger Hill Brewing
2805 Winners Circle Drive, Shakopee, MN
November 9, 10-11am

Pam Schweitzer loves a good folk tale and loves to learn about other people through the stories they tell.  She is a board member of Story Arts of Minnesota and has actively organized five different StoryFests since 2018.  Her style of storytelling is very physical and she uses physical humor to tell the story.  As a literacy intervention specialist, she knows the need that children have to cultivate their imaginations, grow their understanding of how they relate to this world and the understanding of how to navigate that world.  The wonder of story is that it does all those things, and is a blast.  Pam weaves interaction into her stories encouraging everyone to come along and enjoy the fun. 

Sue Searing loves to share all sorts of stories: traditional folk and fairy tales; stories drawn from history and family lore; and original tales inspired by her own life experiences. Sue has performed at schools, theaters, churches, breweries, libraries, and coffeehouses, and at the State Fair. She engages audiences online and on the radio, as well as in person. Sue has won story slams in the Twin Cities and took first place in the Great American Story Contest in Park Rapids, MN. She is a member of SAM’s board of directors and manages SAM’s online presence.

Although everyone is welcome at Saturday Morning Stories, this participatory program will appeal most to school-aged youth.

Nov. 30 - Tellabration!™ Celebrates Storytelling

Story Arts of Minnesota and the Black Storytellers Alliance co-present a fundraising story concert to benefit SAM, the BSA and the National Storytelling Network. Founded by NSN, Tellabration!™ is an annual celebration of storytelling that takes place in many venues all across the country in late November.

Tellabration!™ 2024 will be held on Saturday, November 30, 2-5pm at the American School of Storytelling, 1762 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN.

Accomplished Minnesotan storytellers will donate their time and talent. Each set will include a conversation between the teller and the audience about the stories, the traditions they spring from, and the reactions or questions they provoke.

Rose Arrowsmith
Joshua (Brotha Ase) Gillespie
Danielle Daniel
Loren Niemi 
Nicholas Pawlowski, emcee/facilitator

This is a free event, but donations are strongly encouraged. SAM, BSA and NSN will each receive 1/3 of the proceeds.  

Oct. 12: Saturday Morning Stories with Phuoc Tran

SAM’s monthly children’s programming continues on Saturday, October 12, 10-11am, at Badger Hill Brewing, 2805 Winners Circle Drive, Shakopee, MN. There will be free snacks for the kids. Parents can purchase coffee or beer and pastries. No cover charge!

This program provides an opportunity for parents and children to listen together to stories and participate together as the stories unfold. Each storyteller brings their own unique style and repertoire to engage an intergenerational audience.

This month’s storyteller is Trần Thị Minh Phước.

As a retired librarian, a respected storyteller, and an award-winning author, Trần Thị Minh Phước has shared her experiences, her stories and knowledge of Vietnamese culture at various cultural events, storytelling programs, libraries, universities, colleges, and schools throughout the state and beyond. In addition, she has dedicated her time to helping new immigrants transition into life in America. Her work has inspired others to also pursue their dreams and a good education. Phước Trần fled Vietnam in 1982 on a crowded boat and ended up in a Malaysian refugee camp for ten months before coming to the United States. Wanting to learn English, she spent much time at local libraries which inspired her future career path to become a librarian and serve people like herself. Her upcoming book, Vietnamese Folktales For Children: Stories of Adventure and Wonder in Vietnamese and English, will be released in October 2024.

Sept 22: Rachel Ann Nelson Memorial Gathering of Friends

Rachel Ann Nelson—musician, composer, actor, and storyteller—passed away on August 30, 2024. A Gathering of Friends will take place on Sunday, September 22 (the autumn equinox), 2-5pm at the Jaycee’s picnic shelter in Central Park, 2540 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN.

Wear something red if spirit moves you.

2pm - Gathering together
2:30-4pm - Remembering Rachel
Sound meditation
Sharing songs, poems, stories & memories
Drum circle
4-5pm - Visiting and cleanup

No flowers, please.

Donations are requested to:

International Storytelling Center
GoFundMe to purchase a bench and brick at the center in memory of Rachel
https://www.gofundme.com/f/honor-rachel-nelson-at-the-international-storytelling-center

or

Combustible Company
Rachel performed with Combustible Company
https://combustiblecompany.org

34th Annual "Signifyin' & Testifyin'" Black Storytellers Festival

Story lovers in the Twin Cities eagerly await the last weekend of September, because that’s when the annual Black Storytellers Festival takes place. Three nights of storytelling in three different venues feature some of the best Black storytellers in the U.S.

This year the line-up includes both popular local performers and perenniel audience favorites from around the country: Gran’Daddy Junebug, ShaVunda Brown, Tish Jones, Paul Best, Mama KoKu, Brotha Ase, Toni Simmons, & Danielle Daniel.

Thursday 9/26, 6:30-9:00pm - Opening Ceremony and Story Concert at the Perpich Center for Arts Education, 6125 Olson Memorial Highway Frontage Road, Golden Valley, MN

Friday 9/27, 6:30-9:00pm - Liars Contest at the Capri Theater, 2027 W Broadway, Minneapolis, MN

Saturday 9/28, 6:30-9:00 - Grand Finale Storytelling Concert - Studio 900, The Hennepin, 900 Hennepin AvenueMinneapolis, MN

This year’s festival theme is “The Legacy of Black Love Continues.” All events are free, family friendly, and open to the public. To help the organizers plan for audience size and expectations, please RSVP at https://forms.office.com/r/M3E51HsbNq

Open Mic Mondays start fall season

Story Arts’ successful collaboration with the American School of Storytelling will continue during the fall with storytelling open mics on the third Mondays of each month at 7pm. Launched in October 2023, the monthly open mics are held in the School’s performance space at 1762 Hennepin Avenue South in Minneapolis. Up to 10 tellers who sign up on a first come, first served basis have the opportunity to tell a story that’s 10 minutes or shorter. All types of stories are welcome: true personal stories, family stories, folk and fairy tales, creative fiction, and more.

The monthly program attracts a range of participants, including seasoned professional storytellers, students in college-level storytelling classes, and novices who discover a friendly venue to get behind the mic for the first-time. Some folks come just to listen. There’s never a theme and there’s no judging or critique. There’s no cover charge, though donations to the School are requested if you’re able.

For more information, see the School’s event calendar at https://www.americanschoolofstorytelling.com

September 19: SAM open mic & annual membership meeting

Please join us at the American School of Storytelling for a storytelling open mic. Current, lapsed, and prospective SAM members are all welcome!

At 6:30pm on Thursday, September 19, we’ll gather at the American School of Storytelling in Minneapolis (thank you to co-founder Loren Niemi for the use of the space!). On the brief agenda are a review of the past year's activities, election of new board members, and discussion of your ideas for new (or resurrected) endeavors. Come and learn how you can be involved in promoting the story arts and supporting storytellers.

As soon as business is concluded, we’ll hold a storytelling open mic emceed by SAM board member Howard Lieberman. The rules are simple: Keep your tale to 10 minutes or less. Any type of story is welcome—traditional folktales and legends, true personal or family stories, original fiction, etc. Any style of telling is welcome. There’s no particular theme, and the mood will be supportive, not competitive. SAM members include both professional and amateur tellers who explore a wide range of story genres. It’s sure to be an entertaining and varied program!

September 14: Saturday Morning Stories with Katie Knutson

SAM’s monthly children’s story program continues on September 14, 10-11am, at Badger Hill Brewing, 2805 Winners Circle Drive, Shakopee. The whole family is welcome to hear Katie Knutson’s energetic tales. There’s free refreshments for the kids and no cover charge. Adults can purchase coffee, beer, and pastries. The stories are best suited for school-aged children but all ages will enjoy them.

Katie Knutson is a professional storyteller and teaching artist who has performed and taught around the US and in Canada, Chile, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates. Her writings have been featured in Storytelling Magazine, Tomorrow's Storytellers Today, Science with Storytelling, and Storytelling Strategies for Reaching and Teaching Children with Special Needs. She is the Executive Director for Northeast Storytelling (NEST), which produces one of the highest-rated storytelling conferences in the country each March. Knutson teaches adult & teen storytelling classes and coaches speakers. This summer, she performed her Chautauqua-style one-woman show about Rachel Carson in WI, IL, and CO. Learn more about Katie and hear some of her stories at ripplingstories.com or follow her on Facebook to hear about upcoming performances.

August 10: Saturday Morning Stories with Nicholas Pawlowski

Nicholas Pawlowski, director of The Story Table Foundation, returns to Badger Hill Brewing this month with his signature style of participatory storytelling for kids.

Please join us on Saturday, August 10, 10-11am, at Badger Hill Brewing, 2805 Winners Circle Drive, Shakopee, MN. There will be free snacks and beverages for the children. Parents can purchase coffee or beer and pastries. There is no cover charge.

Nicholas has been integrating fairy tales, rhythmic movement and music into education for over 14 years. In his own words, he “tells stories in such a way that children can listen with their eyes, ears, hands, feet and hearts.” His story sessions include time to listen, dance, and draw. This program will appeal most to school-aged youth. Grown-ups are invited to join in the fun!

Saturday Morning Stories are scheduled through December on the second Saturday of each month. Mark your calendars now so you won’t miss these engaging storytellers:
September 14 - Katie Knutson
October 12 - Phuoc Tran
November 9 - to be announced
December 14 - Larry Johnson

SAM seeks Board nominations

Story Arts of Minnesota is an all-volunteer organization. As SAM grows, adding more activities and partnerships, we seek to expand and further diversify our leadership team. We depend on an active and engaged Board of Directors to lead and inspire our members.

The Board is responsible for setting SAM’s priorities and guiding us to fulfill our mission and vision. Over the years, dozens of individuals have served on the Board, each bringing their unique talents and ideas to strengthen and sustain the organization. If you’re enthusiastic about storytelling in its many forms, you may flourish in the role of SAM Board member.

Many of our current Board members can be seen on stages around the state, but performing is not a requirement. You just need to love the art of storytelling, be eager to support and promote it, and be a member of SAM. If you have experience and/or interest in areas like community outreach, fundraising, digital media, event planning, idea generation, or budgeting, that’s a plus. The board typically meets via Zoom, making it possible for people outside the Twin Cities to contribute meaningfully to SAM’s work. We especially seek Board members who can help build and solidify bridges to Minnesota’s varied ethnic communities and cultural organizations.

Please consider nominating yourself for the Board. If Board service is not an option for you, please consider nominating someone else who’ll be good on the leadership team. Click on the yellow button for a nomination form.

If you need more information about the work of the Board, please email us at storyartsmn@gmail.org.

And please, mark your calendar for the annual membership meeting and open mic, September 19, 6:30 pm at the American School of Storytelling in Minneapolis. We’ll elect the new Board members at the meeting.

Dorothy Cleveland wins Oracle Award for Distinguished National Service

Dorothy Cleveland, long-time SAM member, will receive the Oracle Award for Distinguished National Service. The award will be presented on July 13 at the conference of the National Storytelling Network (NSN) in Federal Way, Washington. The award ceremony will be viewable online by virtual conference registrants and NSN members.

Dot’s story involvement began in 1995 with the North Star Storytelling League and again when the group became Story Arts of Minnesota. She was the National Storytelling Network State Liaison Chair and served on the NSN board as secretary / treasurer. Upon retiring from her position as COO in the legal field, she became the administrator for Northlands, an organization of storytellers in the upper Midwest. She currently serves Illinois Storytelling, Inc., the National Storytelling Network, and the Healing Story Alliance organizations. She has a BA in Business and an MLS in Leadership. She is a co-author with Barbara Schutzgruber of Beyond the Sword Maiden: A Storyteller’s Introduction to the Heroine’s Journey. She may be coaxed into telling stories, too.

The Distinguished National Service Award is presented to those individuals, members or groups who contribute their time and energy in an exemplary manner on the national level to forward the work of the National Storytelling Network. The award is one of several Oracle Awards given by the NSN. For more information on the awards and lists of winners in 2024 and past years, please visit https://storynet.org/awards/oracle-awards/.

July 13: Saturday Morning Stories with Nicholas Pawlowski

SAM’s monthly children’s programming continues on Saturday, July 13, 10-11am, at Badger Hill Brewing, 2805 Winners Circle Drive, Shakopee, MN. There will be free snacks and beverages for the kids. Parents can purchase coffee or beer and pastries. No cover charge!

Our featured storyteller this month is Nicholas Pawlowski, director of The Story Table Foundation and an energetic master of participatory storytelling. In person and online, Nicholas has been integrating fairy tales, rhythmic movement and music into education for over 14 years. In his own words, he “tells stories in such a way that children can listen with their eyes, ears, hands, feet and hearts.”

Nicholas will tell “The Boy Who Went To The Sun,” a thrilling story from Eastern Europe about a boy who goes in search of the sun. With the help of the ancestors and magic creatures, the boy finally finds the sun who instills him with strength to live his life fully. Nicholas has translated this tale from the book "Das Geschenk der zwölf Monate" by Helmut Wittmann, a friend he made on his story research trip to Austria in 2021. This tale is a beautiful example of the transformative hero's journey!

Although all ages enjoy stories and are welcome, this participatory program will appeal most to school-aged youth.

Saturday Morning Stories are scheduled through December on the second Saturday of each month. Mark your calendars now so you won’t miss these engaging storytellers:
August 10 - to be announced
September 14 - Katie Knutson
October 12 - Phuoc Tran
November 9 - to be announced
December 14 - Larry Johnson

JUNE 8: Saturday Morning Stories with Larry Johnson & Elaine Wynne

SAM’s monthly children’s programming continues on Saturday, June 8, 10-11am, at Badger Hill Brewing, 2805 Winners Circle Drive, Shakopee, MN. There will be free snacks and beverages for the kids. Parents can purchase coffee or beer and pastries. No cover charge!

June’s story hour promises double the fun with the husband and wife storytelling team of Larry Johnson and Elaine Wynne. A long time ago Larry and Elaine met as storytellers and put two families together. They have told stories and made music for their children, grandchildren, and now great grandchildren. As THE KEY OF SEE STORYTELLERS, they have told stories to children of all ages in many places in the world. Larry's music played on “instruments” like HEAVY METAL RECYCLED WATER FAUCET stirs up the imagination. Elaine's calming, musical voice brings peace to the room. Tyler the Earthworm, who started the patient TV channel at Minneapolis Children's Hospital 50 years ago, will help you sing along with THE UNDERGROUND CHORUS.  

Although all ages enjoy stories and are welcome, this participatory program will appeal most to school-aged youth.

Saturday Morning Stories are scheduled through December on the second Saturday of each month. Mark your calendars now so you won’t miss these engaging storytellers:

July 13 - Nicholas Pawlowski
August 10 - Carol McCormick
September 14 - Katie Knutson
October 12 - Phuoc Tran
November 9 - to be announced
December 14 - Larry Johnson

Open Mic Mondays continue over the summer

Story Arts’ successful collaboration with the American School of Storytelling will continue during the summer with storytelling open mics on the third Mondays of each month at 7pm. Launched in October 2023, the monthly open mics are held in the School’s performance space at 1762 Hennepin Avenue South in Minneapolis. Up to 10 tellers who sign up on a first come, first served basis have the opportunity to tell a story that’s 10 minutes or shorter. All types of stories are welcome: true personal stories, family stories, folk and fairy tales, creative fiction, and more.

The monthly program attracts a range of participants, including seasoned professional storytellers, students in college-level storytelling classes, and novices who discover a friendly venue to get behind the mic for the first-time. Some folks come just to listen. There’s never a theme and there’s no judging or critique. There’s no cover charge, though donations to the School are appreciated.

If you drop by for Open Mic Monday in May or the coming months, be warned that Hennepin Avenue is under construction, and street parking may be scarce. The School does not have a parking lot. They recommend the public parking ramp by the Walker Museum, a block to the north.

May 11: Saturday Morning Stories with Pam Schweitzer

SAM’s monthly children’s programming continues on Saturday, May 11, 10-11am, at Badger Hill Brewing, 2805 Winners Circle Drive, Shakopee, MN. There will be doughnuts and hot chocolate for the kids. Parents can purchase coffee or beer and pastries. No cover charge!

Pam Schweitzer loves a good folk tale and loves to learn about other people through the stories they tell.  She is a board member of Story Arts of Minnesota and has actively organized five different StoryFests since 2018.  Her style of storytelling is very physical and she uses physical humor to tell the story.  As a literacy intervention specialist, she knows the need that children have to cultivate their imaginations, grow their understanding of how they relate to this world and the understanding of how to navigate that world.  The wonder of story is that it does all those things, and is a blast.  Pam weaves interaction into her stories encouraging everyone to come along and enjoy the fun. 

Although all ages enjoy stories and are welcome, this participatory program will appeal most to school-aged youth.

May 4: Storytellers announced for free May 4 story concert, Signals & Signposts

The final session of StoryFest 2024, on Saturday, May 4 at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, will be a story concert for adult listeners. “Signals & Signposts” brings to the stage seven accomplished storytellers from the Twin Cities and the wider region:

Meghna Bhat
Larry Jackson
Sufian Zhemukhov
Amy Salloway
Coral Conant Gilles
Khary Jackson
Loren Niemi (also serving as host)

Find out more about each of these tellers at https://www.storyartsmn.org/storyfest-2024-adult-concert.

The evening performance is free, but donations will be deeply appreciated.

Learn about all the wonderful events during StoryFest at https://www.storyartsmn.org/storyfest2024

May 4: From the Page to the Stage, with Jim Stowell

StoryFest 2024, SAM’s all-day celebration of storytelling at the Bloomington Center for the Arts on Saturday, May 4, kicks off with a ticketed 90-minute intensive workshop, 9:30-11:00am, led by Jim Stowell.

In Jim Stowell’s work there is “love, humor, danger and hope.” Critical praise for his storytelling often focuses on his ability to “create entire worlds on stage.” In this participatory workshop, Jim will present fundamental techniques to help your own audiences develop an emotional investment in your story and its characters. When you succeed in bringing people and places to life, listeners will carry your story with them when they leave the theater. For example, both in a story itself and in the performance of it, characters make entrances, walk, stand, sit, and speak. The workshop will include exercises in character expression through movement, breath, and voice. By applying Jim’s techniques to fully imagine the details of characters and places, your stories will have greater clarity and immersive power.

Jim Stowell is an award winning professional actor, director, playwright and storyteller. He has written and directed eleven full cast plays including, two children’s plays, three book adaptations and a Spanish language play. His play Traveling Light was published by Milkweed Editions. He has written and performed eleven one man plays. His work has also been performed on National Public Radio, seen at The Sundance Film Festival, The Toronto Film Festival, The National Storytelling Festival  and 300 other venues around the USA, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and a village in the Amazon rainforest.

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT REQUIRED FOR THIS 90-MINUTE INTENSIVE WORKSHOP.
$30 SAM member / $35 general public

April 13: Saturday Morning Stories with Pam Schweitzer and Trần Thị Minh Phước

SAM’s monthly children’s programming continues on Saturday, April 13, 10-11am, at Badger Hill Brewing, 2805 Winners Circle Drive, Shakopee, MN. There will be doughnuts and hot chocolate for the kids. Parents can purchase coffee or beer and pastries. No cover charge!

This program provides an opportunity for parents and children to listen together to stories and participate together as the stories unfold. Each storyteller brings their own unique style and repertoire to engage an intergenerational audience.

April’s storytellers are Pam Schweitzer and Trần Thị Minh Phước. They’ve invited some puppets too!

Pam Schweitzer is passionate about bringing the magic of stories to children and the chime of “tell us a story” brings a sparkle to her eye. She grows imaginations and encourages children to trust their own unique voice. She weaves movement, chants and songs throughout her stories so children can actively participate. Pam is a a licensed elementary school teacher and Reading Specialist who uses stories to enhance literacy and grow imagination. She serves as co-president of Story Arts of Minnesota.

As a retired librarian, a respected storyteller, and an award-winning author, Trần Thị Minh Phước has shared her experiences, her stories and knowledge of Vietnamese culture at various cultural events, storytelling programs, libraries, universities, colleges, and schools throughout the state and beyond. In addition, she has dedicated her time to helping new immigrants transition into life in America. Her work has inspired others to also pursue their dreams and a good education. Phước Trần fled Vietnam in 1982 on a crowded boat and ended up in a Malaysian refugee camp for ten months before coming to the United States. Wanting to learn English, she spent much time at local libraries which inspired her future career path to become a librarian and serve people like herself. Her upcoming book, Vietnamese Folktales For Children: Stories of Adventure and Wonder in Vietnamese and English, will be released in October 2024.

March 23: Celebrate Women's History Month at "Hear Her Voices"

On Saturday March 23, 7:00-8:30 pm, join Mill City Museum and Story Arts of Minnesota, with host Jen Scott, 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.

Pre-sale tickets are sliding scale ($10 and up). Those sales close on March 23 at 3 pm. At-the-door price is $15.

Featuring storytellers:

• Kate Button

• Cynthia Holm

• Dralandra Larkins

• Alyssa Miller

• Akiko Ostlund

• Sue Searing  

• Amital Shaver

The Mill City Museum is located at 704 South 2nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55401. Purchase advance tickets at https://www.mnhs.org/events/1419. Seating is limited. Last year sold out, so don’t delay!