March 9: Saturday Morning Stories with Danielle Daniel

SAM’s monthly children’s programming continues on Saturday, March 9, 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!

Danielle Daniel is a master storyteller, speaker, actress, creative writer, director, and teaching
artist. Her vivacious style fills the stage with a swirl of characters. She works in schools, colleges, and community organizations using the art of storytelling to entertain, educate, motivate, and empower people of all ages. Her storytelling programs and touring shows have been presented in Europe and the United States. She is a recipient of the Jim Dusso Artist Award, Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship, LIN Grant, Many Voices, and a Jerome Fellowship from the Playwright Center. Her literary work includes a children’s book, The Ghost of Old Man Willie, and three plays: Voodoo Child, Sugar and Spice a Black Woman’s Melody, and The Magic of Laughter. Danielle believes our stories are like air and water, we need them to survive.

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

Feb. 10: Saturday Morning Stories with Nicholas Pawlowski

After a successful launch in January, SAM’s monthly children’s programming continues on Saturday, February 10, 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.

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.”

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

Feb. 16 deadline: Call for tellers for Hear Her Stories

Mill City Museum in downtown Minneapolis is hosting a live, in-person storytelling event in celebration of Women’s History Month 2024. And again this year, Story Arts is part of this effort.

We are looking for female-identifying performers to tell their true stories, inspired by history and women of the past.  

Mill City Museum is a museum focused on four main themes of Land, People, City, Food: feel free to use any one of these as an optional prompt. Perhaps one of these subjects inspires a story? (i.e. How has the land shaped you? What food is important to you or your family? Recipes? etc.)

• 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 Sunday March 17th, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., or on Wednesday March 20th, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.). Attendance at one of these rehearsals is expected.

• An additional benefit of this event is that StoryArts of MN will be offering optional story coaching sessions to all selected storytellers. Coaching can be useful to performers of all experience levels and we encourage you to request a coaching session if selected.

• Deadline for submission is by February 16, 2024.

The program will be an in-person event on Saturday, March 23, 2024 in Mill City Museum’s Mill Commons at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available to the public.  

Submission sign up, along with additional details can be found here. https://forms.gle/4ZDzuUUkArz7Y1Dz7

Questions? Reach out to Jen Scott at octoberdandy@gmail.com

Jan. 19: New deadline for StoryFest proposals

The deadline to propose workshops or stories for StoryFest 2024 has been extended to midnight, Friday, January 19. Please visit the link below for full guidelines and links to submission forms. Questions? Please email us at storyartsmn@gmail.com.

Jan. 13: "Saturday Morning Stories" launches in Shakopee

Join us at Story Arts new monthly storytelling event for families and kids! Badger Hill Brewing invited SAM to organize Saturday morning storytimes on the second Saturday of the month at their new, expanded space at 2805 Winners Circle Drive in Shakopee, MN. Located in a fast-growing suburb of the Twin Cities, the brewery is establishing itself as a neighborhood gathering spot.

Our goal is to provide an opportunity for families and story lovers of all ages to enjoy a hot beverage and a snack while interacting with SAM members who delight in entertaining kids. Pam Schweitzer (pictured above on the left) and Sue Searing (right) will perform at the first “Saturday Morning Stories” on Saturday, January 13, 2024. Between them, Pam and Sue have a large repertoire of stories from around the world, suitable for both tandem and solo performance.

If the series takes off, we anticipate issuing a call for interest among SAM members and building a roster of interested tellers for future dates. In the meantime, please come by (and bring some kids!) to show your support, be entertained, and enjoy a great cup of coffee.

Dec. 26: Final online open mic Story Circle

               Story Arts of Minnesota’s final online storytelling open mic will take place on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, at 7pm Central US/Canada time. We hope you’ll join us to share a story or just to listen. To register for the free Story Circle, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sam-online-story-circle-tickets-734940636227.

               SAM launched monthly online Story Circles as an early response to COVID. Minnesota’s governor issued a “Stay at Home” executive order on March 27, 2020. SAM’s board considered how to continue supporting Minnesota storytellers during an indefinite period of isolation. We decided to create a virtual gathering and performance space where there is no competition, no theme, and everyone is welcome.  The first Story Circle was held on April 7, 2020.

               Since then, we’ve held 42 Story Circles. Nine SAM board members have taken turns hosting and/or providing Zoom support. Nearly 400 people have attended--not just Minnesotans, but story lovers from across North America and around the world. We’ve heard over 200 stories, each one delightfully unique.

               However, as lockdowns lifted, the need for SAM’s Story Circles waned. Declining attendance reflects this fact. We formerly attracted 15-30 people each month; we now have just 1-5. Therefore SAM is turning its attention to new programs with potentially greater impact. This month’s Story Circle will be the last.

               Thanks to everyone who has ever shared a story, listened raptly, or helped to publicize the Story Circles! Please join us for our final online get-together. We welcome storytellers with any level of experience to tell any type of story (traditional, personal, historical, etc.) in 7 minutes or less. There’s no theme, no judging, and no cost unless you choose to make a donation. Laura Packer will host the final Story Circle. Again, the link to register is https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sam-online-story-circle-tickets-734940636227.

Dec. 16: ASST Program to honor Beverly Cottman's memory

Minnesota and the world lost a talented, beloved storyteller and teacher when Beverly Cottman passed in March of 2023. Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST), an organization of storytellers and other artists and performers, will honor her during their December Sacred Storytelling program. The program will be held on Zoom.

As ASST describes it, the monthly program is “a time of grateful remembrance when we honor artists who are no longer with us in body, but remain in our hearts and our ears.” The second half of the program includes an Interfaith Story Circle where people from all faith traditions are encouraged to share stories based on a theme.

Register for this free program at https://www.asst.art/event-details/december-2023-sacred-storytelling

ASST (pronounced “assist”) is a nonprofit artist support organization whose mission is to connect independent artists with resources. Learn more at https://www.asst.art/our-mission

StoryFest 2024: Call for Stories and Workshops

Story Arts of Minnesota’s next all-day StoryFest will take place on Saturday, May 4th, in Bloomington, MN. We are now accepting proposals from storytellers who would like to perform and/or lead a workshop. Tellers and teachers receive payment. Submissions are due by January 8.

The guidelines and submission forms are available at https://www.storyartsmn.org/storyfest2024-call-for-submissions

Nov. 18: Announcing our Tellabration!™ storytellers

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.