There's so much going on at Story House! We are pleased to announce several new initiatives. As always, we welcome your ideas.
Artist Gym
Artist Gym is an innovative workshop series that uses arts-based exercises to inspire creative connection and community-building. It was developed by Sarah Plotkin, a theater artist who ran dozens of sessions in New York and Boston and recently returned to her home town of Ithaca. Participants move, improvise, write, and tell stories in a fun, supportive environment. The first session, in November, was supported by an SOS grant from the Community Arts Partnership (CAP) of Tompkins County. A Grants for Arts Programs (GAP) grant from CAP will support a second session this year.
Behind the Wall
Story House Ithaca and Prisoner Express have teamed up on Behind the Wall, a traveling exhibit of 140 pieces of art and writing by 90 incarcerated people from around the country, thanks to a grant to Story House from Humanities New York. The artwork, collected and curated by Prisoner Express, has been seen by thousands of visitors to public libraries in Ithaca, Auburn, Seneca Falls, Owego, and Cortland.
Stages of Life
“Stages of Life” is a multicultural, intergenerational playwriting workshop that connects elders from the GIAC Seniors Program and the Lifelong Senior Theatre Troupe with youth from the Village at Ithaca, Community Unity Music Education Program (CUMEP), and Running to Places Theatre Company, with everyone writing short plays based on the stories they learn from their partners. Its first season closed on April 2 with an inspiring reading by professional actors at the Kitchen Theatre Company. “Stages of Life” was supported by grants from the Community Arts Partnership’s Creative Recovery Fund and the Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County. A grant from the J.M. McDonald Foundation will allow us to do it again next year!
Presentation Night
We are describing Presentation Night as "very short talks by non-experts on whatever." The first session, in February, attracted 65 people to The Soil Factory. A second session, on April 4, brought nearly 50 to Deep Dive. It's been so fun, we're determined to keep doing it! Software developer and storyteller Omar Shehata brought us the idea and serves as host. Be a presenter or just come for the fun of learning!
Comments