Nov 12: Twin Cities Tellabration!™

TELLABRATION!™ is a night of storytelling celebrated worldwide on or about the third Saturday in November. (The Twin Cities Tellabration!™ is occuring on the second Saturday of November in 2022.)

The National Storytelling Network originated and sponsors Tellabration!™. All around the globe, guilds and storytelling enthusiasts will share their storytelling talents in concerts held in cities and towns to celebrate the art of storytelling. Locally, Tellabration!™ will bring together some of our area’s most celebrated storytellers, to delight, captivate, and mesmerize the audience with their stories. Tellabration!™ creates a network of storytelling enthusiasts bonded together in spirit.

For more background, see https://storynet.org/events/tellabration/

Renowned tellers appearing in Winona, October 14-15

The Sandbar Storytelling Festival will take place in Winona, MN, on October 14-15, featuring award-winning storytellers from around the country:

Bil Lepp
Carolina Quiroga-Stultz
Rev. Robert Jones, Sr.
Alton Takiyama-Chung
Regi Carpenter

Find the schedule of events, learn about the tellers, and purchase tickets at https://sandbarstorytellingfestival.org/

Kevin Kling featured at National Storytelling Festival

Minneapolis-based storyteller Kevin Kling is among the featured tellers at the 50th National Storytelling Festival this year. The festival takes place in Jonesborough, Tennessee, October 7-9, and includes a virtual program too.

Find out more and purchase tickets at https://www.storytellingcenter.net/festival/main/

Monthly Online Story Circles Continuing Through December

It’s a fascinating time to be a storyteller! In-person venues are once again hosting live storytelling shows, slams, festivals, and open mics. At the same time, many online programs that evolved in response to COVID restrictions are still going strong.  Story Arts of Minnesota has opted to continue our monthly open mic Story Circles on Zoom at least through the end of 2022.  (A decision about 2023 programs will be made later.)

We invite you to join us on the fourth Tuesday of September, October, November, and December at 7-8pm Central US/Canda time.  With no theme and no judging, SAM's online Story Circles provide a relaxed environment for you to tell a 7-minute story or simply to enjoy listening to others' tales. Admission is always free, but we're wildly grateful for donations in any amount.

Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/story-circles-online-storytelling-open-mics-716329

Oct 15: Twin Cities Book Festival

Story Arts of Minnesota will have a table at the Twin Cities Book Festival on October 15, 10am-5pm, at the State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. We’ll be sharing information about SAM and opportunities to tell stories and learn the art of storytelling. We’ll also be raffling off new storytelling-related books and selling used books donated by our members. Stop by and say hi! If you’d able to staff the table for an hour or two, please pick a shift on the sign-up sheet.

Sept 22-24: Black Master Storytellers Festival

[PHOTO: Storyteller Len Cabral, one of the featured performers at the Black Master Storytellers Festival.]

The Black Storytellers Alliance presents its 32nd annual Black Master Storytellers Festival in Minneapolis on three nights in late September. The festival showcases renowned Black tellers Mama Koku, Joshua Cheo Gillespie (Asè), Charlotte Blake Alston, Mitch Gran’Daddy June Bug Capel, Dr. Amina Blackwood Meeks, Len Cabral, Dylan Pritchett, and Dr. Rita Cox. All events are free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Visit https://blackstorytellers.com/ for more information, including bios of the storytellers.

Schedule

Thursday, September 22, 2022
Opening Ceremony Storytelling Concert - 6:30 – 9:00 PM
Perpich Center for Arts Education

Friday, September 23, 2022
Liars Contest  6:30 – 9:30 PM
The Capri Theater

Saturday, September 24, 2022
Grand Finale Storytelling Concert - 6:30 – 9:30 PM
Studio 900

August 23: Story Circle online open mic

We gather on Zoom to tell stories and listen on the fourth Tuesday of every month. We welcome all sorts of stories, 7 minutes in length or shorter. There’s no theme and no judging. If you’re new to storytelling, you’ll find an appreciative and supportive audience. If you’re a seasoned storyteller, it’s a great place to try out a new tale. And if you just like listening to stories in a casual setting, the SAM Story Circle is for you too—because what could be more informal than your own home?

Tickets are free, though we request donations to support SAM’s programs. Please register through Eventbrite:. The next Story Circle is on

Tuesday, August 23, 7-8 pm Central time
Find full details and register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sam-online-story-circle-tickets-378356714117

July 30: NSN's "Connected, Part 1"

In lieu of a full in-person or virtual conference this year, the National Storytelling Network is holding a one-day gathering online. In the words of NSN board chair Loren Niemi, the highlights of the event will be “the Annual Membership Meeting to report on the state of the organization and the larger community, the Oracle Awards and Concert celebrating the life and vitality of storytelling and storytellers, and the Grand Slam, to cap off a year’s worth of 5-minute stories writ large and engaging.”

The NSN is a is a membership organization of individuals and organizations involved in storytelling. Its mission is to advance all forms of storytelling within the community through promotion, advocacy and education.

The entire event is $40 members/$50 non-members OR Pay-What-You-Can, with the Membership Meeting free to all.

Link to information and registration: https://storynet.org/events/conference/

June 28: Story Circle online open mic

Everyone's welcome at SAM's monthly storytelling open mic!  

We gather on Zoom to tell stories and listen on the fourth Tuesday of every month, 7-8pm Central US/Canada time. Whether you're a first-timer or a pro, we invite you to join us.  Whether your story is true or made up, or an old folk tale that's been handed down over many generations, we'd love to hear it.  There's no judging or feedback, just the joy of shared stories. 

Our next Story Circle is Tuesday, June 28.

You must register in advance to receive the Zoom link:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sam-online-story-circle-tickets-323613626067   After registering, if you want to sign up for a slot to tell a 7-minute story, please send an email to storyartsmn@gmail.com.  You can also sign up at the start of the program if time remains. 

SAM Story Circles are always free, though we'll make a brief plea for donations.

We hope to see you there!

June 13, 7pm: Annual Membership Meeting

All current, past, and potential members of Story Arts of Minnesota are invited to the annual membership meeting.

Monday, June 13
7pm
Zoom link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84257198598

Agenda items will include the election of new board members. If you’re interested in serving, or curious about what board membership involves, drop us an email at storyartsmn@gmail.com. We’d be happy to talk with you!

May 24: Story Circle Online open Mic

Everyone's welcome at SAM's monthly storytelling open mic!  

We gather on Zoom to tell stories and listen on the fourth Tuesday of every month, 7-8pm Central US/Canada time. Whether you're a first-timer or a pro, we invite you to join us.  Whether your story is true or made up, or an old folk tale that's been handed down over many generations, we'd love to hear it.  There's no judging or feedback, just the joy of shared stories. 

Our next Story Circle is Tuesday, May 24.

You must register in advance to receive the Zoom link:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sam-online-story-circle-tickets-273687014227   After registering, if you want to sign up for a slot to tell a 7-minute story, please send an email to storyartsmn@gmail.com.  You can also sign up at the start of the program if time remains. 

SAM Story Circles are always free, though we'll make a brief plea for donations.

We hope to see you there!

April 26: Story Circle online open mic

Please join us at our free monthly online Story Circle. No theme, no scoring, just shared stories (7 minutes or shorter) and a fun time in good company. We welcome both new and experienced tellers and appreciate all types of stories (personal stories, traditional folk and fairy tales, stories from history, original tales, etc.) Register in advance to get the Zoom link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sam-online-story-circle-tickets-273684245947

March 22: Story Circle online open mic

SAM’s successful open mic Story Circles are continuing online for the foreseeable future. We launched the virtual Story Circles in April 2020 to provide a place for SAM members and fellow storytellers to gather online to tell and listen to stories after COVID forced the closure of most in-person venues. in the two years since, some 235 people have attended SAM’s monthly online open mics, and more than a hundred stories have been shared.

The Story Circles attract participants from far beyond Minnesota, including distant nations as well as many US states and Canadian provinces. The range of stories on some nights is astonishing — poignant folk tales, raucous tall tales, harrowing true personal adventures, even stories told in rhyming verse. With no theme and no judging, it’s a supportive environment to try out a new story in development, or dust off an old favorite. Or just to kick back and listen. If you haven’t come to a Story Circle yet, consider dropping by this spring. They always take place on the fourth Tuesday of the month, 7-8pm. Story Circles are free and open to everyone, but you must register in advance to receive the Zoom link: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/story-arts-of-minnesota-17294067957

March 26 - Hear Her Stories

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. Hosted by Jen Scott.

Doors open at 6:30 pm. Seating is general admission. Cost is $10-12; MNHS members and SAM members save 20%. (SAM members, please email storyartsmn@gmail.org if you need the promo code.)

The museum gallery will be closed during this event.

Seating is limited. Tickets are available online through https://www.facebook.com/events/627939681634173 or at the door.

Feb. 21 deadline: Call for tellers of women's history and personal stories

Nellie Griswold Francis, ca. 1924. Image is from Foster, Mary Dillon, Who’s Who Among Minnesota Women (1924), 111.

Mill City Museum in Minneapolis is hosting a live, in-person storytelling event in recognition of Women’s History Month!  SAM is partnering with the museum staff and guest curator Jen Scott to plan and promote the program..

We are looking for female-identifying performers to tell their true stories inspired by history and women of the past. The program will be an in-person event on Saturday, March 26, 2022 in Mill City Museum’s Mill Commons at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.

• Stories should be no longer than nine 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.

• Deadline for submission is February 21, 2022

Submission sign up, along with additional details (including COVID policies) can be found here: https://forms.gle/NMyoHAQtAi5X2Yu78

Join us for a Secret Story Valentine Swap!

We have a new story sharing opportunity for you. Join us for a Secret Story Valentine Swap! It's free and easy, and you're guaranteed a new tellable tale. All you need to do to participate is send an email with the subject "Valentine Story Swap" to SAM Vice President, Laura Packer at laura@laurapacker.com no later than February 12, 2022 at midnight CT. Laura will send you an email on the 13th with your Secret Story Valentine. You will then send them an email by February 19 with a family-friendly story they can tell. Keep an eye on your email for your tellable tale. That's it! It's free, easy, and fun. All participants are guaranteed a story, whether from the person who draws your name or from the SAM board.

Story Circle open mics continue into 2022

When SAM hosted its first online open mic in April 2020, in response to the sudden shuttering of storytelling venues because of the rapidly spreading COVID virus, we never imagined we’d still be gathering on Zoom so many months later. But…. here we are…. still sharing stories over the internet as we wrap up 2021 and head into 2022. Our monthly sessions now bring together many regular participants as well as newcomers in a welcoming virtual venue.

We welcome all sorts of stories, 7 minutes in length or shorter. There’s no theme and no judging. If you’re a seasoned storyteller, the SAM Story Circle is a great place to try out a new tale. If you’re new to storytelling, you’ll find an appreciative and supportive audience. And if you just like listening to stories in a casual setting, the SAM Story Circle is for you too—because what could be more informal than your own home?

Tickets are free, though we request donations to support SAM’s programs. Please register through Eventbrite:

December 28, 2021 - 7-8 pm Central Time

January 25, 2022 - 7-8 pm Central Time

Tellabration!™ concert video available

The video of SAM’s Tellabration!™ story concert, featuring eight SAM members and a range of story genres and styles, is now available for viewing at https://www.storyartsmn.org/tellabration-2021

Nov 23 - Bring your stories and listening ears to our open mic Story Circle!

Every fourth Tuesday of the month, 7-8pm Central Time, SAM hosts an online open mic Story Circle. It’s free of charge and open to everyone, but you must sign up in advance to get the login.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sam-online-story-circle-tickets-196056027857

Email us at storyartsmn@gmail.com to reserve a spot to tell, or put your name in the virtual hat during the program. There is no theme and all story genres are allowed. We welcome both experienced and new storytellers. Please provide a content warning if your story might be challenging for listeners, and please let others know whether they have permission to retell it. Stories should be 7 minutes or shorter.

Don't have a story to share?  Just bring your listening ears and viewing eyes and be the audience. Everyone is welcome!

Nov 21 - NSN North Central Region online Tellabration!™ Open House

Minnesota is going all out for TELLABRATION!™ this month! After SAM’s online story concert on Saturday November 20, log on again on Sunday November 21 for the National Storytelling Network North Central Region Tellabration!™ Open House!

Let’s share stories from across the North Central Region on Sunday, November 21 from noon-8:00 pm CST (1:00-9:00 pm EST).  This is an Open House, so feel free to drop in for any or all of it. Minnesotan tellers Beverly Cottman, Howard Lieberman, Carol McCormick, Richard Rousseau, and Sue Searing will be on from 6:00-7:00 pm CST. Another Minnesotan teller, Katie Knutson, currently president of the National Storytelling Network, will be the emcee.

This is a free Zoom event with a maximum of 100 people at any one time.  Audience members and tellers can come and go all day as long as there is room.  Everyone MUST register here:

http://tiny.cc/NCRegionTellabration

While this is a free event, we are asking those who are able to please make a voluntary donation to the National Storytelling Network. 

https://storynet.org/donate/

Have you never joined NSN, or has your membership lapsed? Check out our website, see what’s going on, think about joining or renewing:

https://storynet.org/