StorySlams paused until further notice.

Subject: FPA StorySlams paused until further notice; please allow me to explain…

These are uncertain times. Now, more than ever, we need more stories, more connections, and more community.

Which makes this next sentence hard to write.

I am writing to tell you that we have made the difficult decision to pause our Story Slams until further notice. More than anyone, you know the hard work, the fear, and the magic of sharing your story on stage. We thank you for your effort, your vulnerability, and your courage.

The National Endowment for the Arts has generously supported our Slam season. However, with their current funding freeze, we have no funding available to present these events.

This is ONE of several hard choices we’re making to ensure that the voices we uplift can continue to be heard for years. You see, in recent years, our programming has received stellar recognition and support. Unfortunately, the support we have received is not enough to cover all of our costs.

So, we’ve made the tough decision to laser focus on three areas of First Person Arts innovation and excellence, then regrow over the next 21 months. Please know we took every action to avoid this, including staff & salary reductions.

Our plan is to focus on these three priorities:
1- The First Person Arts Festival presents high-quality memoir and documentary art by artists and everyday people in a way that encourages audiences to explore new stories and connect around our unique and shared experiences.

2- The First Person Arts Applied Storytelling work that

• centers the lived experiences of people to bring hope, help, and healing to communities in crisis via Trigger Gun Violence Intervention and youth workshops in schools & libraries, and;
• customizes storytelling experiences for groups wishing to use art to improve outcomes through our work, and;

3- Being the only publicly accessible repository for the true, personal stories from our region around the themes and issues important to them via The First Person Arts Archive and YouTube Channel.

We hope to bring the Slams back, in some form or another, as soon as we can.

In these difficult times, we must and will remain resolute – devoted to disrupting polarization by connecting people around our unique and shared experiences.

More information will follow about how you can help us move forward, with impact.

Yours, in service

Jamie J. Brunson,
The Board and Staff of First Person Arts.