Miami, Fl - Since 2001, the Miami-Dade Public Library’s Art of Storytelling Festival and Workshops has grown into an internationally recognized professional conference attended by hundreds of librarians, storytellers and educators. What sets this project apart from other storytelling festivals is the Library System’s collaboration each year with libraries from such countries as Ghana, Ireland, Jamaica and this year: the Rio de Janeiro Public Library in Brazil. This extraordinary partnership allows librarians and storytellers to expand professional development through library services workshops, staff training, brainstorming discussions and visits to area libraries.

In May, our partners from Brazil along with other nationally and internationally acclaimed storytellers and authors will journey to Miami to provide an exceptional opportunity for conference attendees to learn, share and discuss innovative ideas and storytelling techniques. The Art of Storytelling program gives anyone who tells stories – teachers, parents, professional storytellers, childcare workers or children’s librarians – the opportunity to learn new tales and techniques through storytelling seminars. These full-day workshops are led by nationally and internationally acclaimed storytellers and authors who share their knowledge and experiences with those attending the program. This year’s workshops will be facilitated by author, illustrator and storyteller Ashley Bryan and Brazilian storyteller Antonio Rocha. Librarians, teachers, and children’s specialists will benefit by:

• Engaging in learning new skills and gaining insights into the importance of using different types of stories to teach reading, history, and language arts.
• Learning the nuances of telling stories from other lands that can be used to impart a sharing of cultures and a sense of pride to our ever-growing multicultural populations.
• Meeting and networking with other professionals, like themselves, from around the world.

The conference culminates with the International Family Festival Day, bringing together all the elements of the Art of Storytelling through international storytelling performances with particular highlights of the Brazilian culture. The festival also features a Children’s Corner with arts & craft activities, storybook characters, the Arthur show, and special performances by both children and teen storytellers. The whole family will enjoy performances by renowned storytellers Carmen Agra-Deedy, Joan Osborne, Ashley Bryan and Antonio Rocha; music; refreshments and much more. There will also be a West Indian carnival, Brazilian Capoeira martial arts demonstrations, a food bazaar and lots of excitement!

In addition to the Festival and its workshops, new to this year’s conference is a chance to tour some of the most famous spots in Miami such as South Beach, Coconut Grove, Miami Beach and the community libraries serving these neighborhoods. Miami-Dade Public Library System is inviting library and education professionals to save by early registration, which includes special hotel rates. Trip highlights include:

Miami Neighborhood Excursion: Take a scenic video/bus tour of some of the most famous Miami’s hot spots such as South Beach, Little Havana’s Calle Ocho, Coconut Grove, Miami Beach and Coral Gables. This guided tour will provide an opportunity to re-live the history of Miami and to experience its astounding cultural diversity. Passengers will enjoy Cuban food at the famous Versailles restaurant in Little Havana. As modern day passes by outside, video monitors aboard the bus will depict life in the past, displaying vintage films paralleling the route. This historical footage is provided by the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archive.

Salsa Night: Attendees will learn to dance Salsa and revel in a night of food and music at the historical landmark The Barnacle.

Brazilian Night Closing Reception: Participants will enjoy a magical evening of Brazilian music, food and Capoeira martial arts demonstrations on Miami Beach.
*Admission and Transportation to these events are included with registration.

Family Festival Day: Saturday, May 20, 10:30 – 4:00 p.m.
This exciting family day will fill the Miami-Dade Cultural Plaza with storytelling, music, food, literary characters like Arthur and D.W., arts & crafts and face painting. This year’s festival will feature internationally recognized storytellers Ashley Bryan, Antonio Rocha, Joan Osborn and much more. It’s all free and open to the public.

Hotel Info
Overlooking Miami's Biscayne Bay, located in the heart of downtown Miami, across from the world-class Bayside Marketplace, the Holiday Inn is just walking distance or a short ride away from the Port of Miami, American Airlines Arena, and South Beach.

Funding for the Art of Storytelling was made possible by the Children’s Trust, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and other corporate sponsors.

Registration is available online at www.mdpls.org through the Art of Storytelling link. For additional information, please contact Patricia Faison at 305 – 375-5501 or faisonp@mdpls.org

Media Contact:
Marivi Prado, Public Affairs Officer
Tel. (305) 375-5180
pradom@mdpls.org