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. This is our second year of partnering with the Bloomington Center for the Arts in their beautiful space, and we seek storytellers, workshop leaders, and volunteers to help create our best gathering ever! Your voices and expertise will make StoryFest 2024 a full day of exceptional listening, learning, and interactive fun. Please submit proposals by midnight January 19th through the online form call for stories:  https://forms.gle/VPnLTQQeEUx2dLy6A   or call for workshops: https://forms.gle/QG39fbSWEQdvyd7k8 

StoryFest 2024 will be a gathering of voices from across Minnesota.  We don’t have a particular theme, but we are looking for a wide diversity of stories.  Fire up your imagination and propose a story to tell or workshop to present – the possibilities are endless. We’ve made a few suggestions below, but we’re eager to hear your own ideas too. All plans are subject to change, depending on the submissions we receive.
 

Workshop Leaders needed for StoryFest 2024

We’re planning for up to 3 ( 55-minute) workshops in the afternoon. Leaders will be paid $100 per workshop. (If a workshop has more than one leader, the co-leaders will decide for themselves how to divide up the payment.)

The planning committee particularly welcomes workshop proposals on the following topics:

  • Storytelling about environmental issues

  • Storytelling to foster hope, reconciliation, and/or resolution

  • Alternative worlds/futures and science fiction storytelling

  • Storytelling for social justice

  • Working together

  • The problem of cultural appropriation when striving to bridge cultural divides (perhaps presented by a panel?)

  • A workshop for kids

  • A workshop for beginning tellers

  • A workshop on any compelling topic related to storytelling techniques, story sources, or the uses of storytelling in our communities.

Submit your workshop proposals by midnight on January 19 through the online form. You may submit more than one proposal for consideration. Please use a separate form for each workshop.


 Storytellers needed for StoryFest 2024

We plan to hold up to 3 mini-concerts in the afternoon, each 55 minutes long with 4 tellers and discussion time. Tellers will be paid $50 for a 10-minute story. 

We plan to hold a late afternoon Children’s Concert featuring 5 tellers. Tellers will be paid $50 for an 8-minute story.

We plan to hold an evening Adult Concert featuring 6 tellers. Tellers will be paid $100 for a 15-minute story.


The StoryFest 2024 planning committee welcomes stories, whether true or traditional, that touch on concepts such as bridging divides, social justice, alternative worlds, connection, interdependence, hope, reconciliation, resolution, and/or working together. Stories from across the globe are welcome.

Submit your story proposals by midnight on January 19 through the online form. You may submit more than one story for consideration. Please use a separate form for each story.


Showcases for StoryFest 2024

Following the success of community showcases during our online StoryFest 2021, we plan on 3, 55-minute sessions for organizations or projects in Minnesota that use storytelling to foster social justice. This is an opportunity to demonstrate and discuss how sharing stories can help build a better world. The organizations or projects showcased will each receive $100. If you would like to recommend an organization or project for a showcase, please send us a message at storyartsmn@gmail.com, with “StoryFest showcase” in the subject line.

 
Important information for all submissions:


Priority will be given to tellers/presenters who are members of Story Arts of Minnesota (click here to join: https://www.storyartsmn.org/support-sam ).
We particularly welcome applications from under-represented voices. Please read our Commitment to Racial Justice at https://www.storyartsmn.org/ Please indicate on your application if you identify as BIPOC or other under-represented voice.


Any questions?
Please reach out to us at storyartsmn@gmail.com