Miami-Dade County, FL – The Miami-Dade Public Library System in association with the Consulat général de France à Miami, presents the 6th Annual Art of Storytelling International Festival on Saturday, May 19, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Main Library, 101 W. Flagler Street, downtown Miami. This free event is open to the entire community.    

The Miami-Dade Cultural Plaza and the Main Library will be transformed into a global village with local and international storytellers of all ages; music; food; free face-painting; arts and crafts and giveaways. The entire family can enjoy performances by authors and storytellers Theresa Amoon, Gayle Ross, Kuniko Yamamoto; Irene Smalls; Fereydoun Kian, Jose-Luis Orozco and Ras Mo.  The Haitian Band Etincelle Twobadou and the Jamaican Revue will provide musical entertainment. There will be storybook characters including Madeline, Amelia Bedelia, the Red Dog, Kitty-in-the-Hat and Mother Goose. Children can laugh to the antics of Mr. Funnybones, see a Giant Puppet Show and march in a West Indian carnival parade.

 The Art of Storytelling (AOS) was developed by the Library System in 2001, as a way to provide free, high quality, educational and cultural information to county residents. This innovative outreach program also includes an international library-to-library exchange program; storytelling seminars for educators, librarians and parents, and a storytelling showcase series. AOS has grown into a culturally enriching event, with exchange partners from libraries in Jamaica, Ghana, Ireland, the Caribbean and Brazil. The 2007 international exchange partner is the Bibliothèque Méjanes, Aix-en-Provence, France. Through AOS, the Library seeks to expand its role as an important community resource by presenting programs that reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of Miami-Dade County residents.

Free parking for the festival is available (while spaces last), at the Miami-Dade Cultural Center Garage, 50 NW 2nd Avenue and the Hickman Garage, 270 NW 2nd Street. Starting May 12, free metrorail and metrobus passes will also be available at library branches (while supplies last).

For additional information on AOS 2007, please call 305-375-BOOK (2665).

Schedule of Program – Saturday, May 19
11 a.m.
Bits ‘n’ Pieces Puppet Theatre – Library Auditorium
Etincelle Twobadou Band
Meet and greet costume characters – Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm, Madeline, Mother Goose, Mr. Funnybones – Cultural Plaza

11:30 a.m.                                                                                                                                            Kitty-in-the-Hat Show – Sculpture Garden
Seniors Telling Stories – Library Fiction Area, 1st Floor
Storyteller Gayle Ross – Historical Museum
Storyteller Theresa Amoon – Library Auditorium

11:45 a.m.                                                                                                                                                   Youth Tellers – Sculpture Garden

Noon
Mother Goose on the Loose – Miami Art Museum
Musician/Storyteller Ras Mo – Library Auditorium
Storyteller Irene Smalls – Sculpture Garden
Teen Tellers – Historical Museum

12:30 p.m.
Mr. Funnybones – Library Auditorium
Musician/Storyteller Ras Mo – Historical Museum
Storyteller Jose-Luis Orozco – Miami Art Museum
Youth Tellers – Sculpture Garden- Cultural Plaza

1 p.m.
Hip Hop Kidz – Cultural Plaza
Storyteller Kuniko Yamamoto – Library Auditorium
Teen Tellers – Historical Museum

1:30 p.m.
Jamaican Folk Revue – Historical Museum
Mr. Funnybones on Stilts – Cultural Plaza
Salty Sue the Pirate – Sculpture Garden
Storyteller Gayle Ross – Library Auditorium  

2 p.m.
Mother Goose on the Loose – Miami Art Museum
Storyteller Fereydoun Kian – Historical Museum
Storyteller Irene Smalls – Library Auditorium
Youth Tellers – Sculpture Garden- Cultural Plaza

2:30 p.m.
Jamaican Folk Revue – Library Fiction Area, 1st Floor
Mr. Funnybones – Historical Museum
Professor McGonnagal – Sculpture Garden
Storyteller Jose-Luis Orozco – Miami Art Museum
Storyteller Theresa Amoon – Library Auditorium

3 p.m.
Bits ‘n’ Pieces Puppet Theatre – Library Auditorium
Storyteller Gayle Ross – Library Fiction Area, 1st Floor
The Red Dog Sing-A-Long – Miami Art Museum

3:30 p.m.
West Indian Carnival – Cultural Plaza

11a.m. - 3 p.m. (ongoing)
Arts & Crafts  – Cultural Plaza
Face Painting– Cultural Plaza

* Performances and times are subject to change.

The Art of Storytelling 2007 is made possible in part by Alliance Française of Miami, Bank of America, City of Coral Gables. Consulat général de France à Miami,Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library, Historical Museum of Southern Florida, Miami Art Museum, Miami Children’s Museum, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Miami-Dade Family Learning Partnership, Miami-Dade Public Library Foundation, Miami-Dade Transit, Miami-Dade Office of the Child Advocate, the Miami Herald / El Nuevo Herald, and the Rotary Club of Miami.

Media Contact:
Victoria Galan, Public Affairs Officer
Tel. 305.375.5180; galanv@mdpls.org

Vinora Hamilton, Public Information Officer
Tel. 305.375.3327; hamiltonv@mdpls.org