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First Person Arts

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First Person Arts was founded in 2000 as Blue Sky by Vicki Solot, in response to the burgeoning interest in memoir and documentary art forms. Solot appreciated the resonance of real stories and recognized their value as a means of bridging cultural ethnic divides. First Person Arts produces the First Person Festival, the only festival of its kind dedicated to presenting multi-disciplinary works-of-art based on authentic, real-life experiences.

• At-a-
  Glance

  • Contact Info

    First Person Arts

    1 S. Broad Street
    17th Floor
    Philadelphia, PA 19107

    Phone: 267-402-2056   |   Official Website

  • Current Events

    05/14/13- 06/18/13

    Intro to Memoir Workshop- Crafting Believable and Compelling First Person Essays Intro to Memoir Workshop- Crafting Believable and Compelling First Person Essays Presented by First Person Arts May 14-June 18, 2013 If you don’t consider yourself a writer, then this workshop is for you. Journalers, dabblers, and dreamers welcome. This 6-week, hands-on workshop is designed to give you a solid foundation in the craft of writing personal essays and memoir. By investigating the fundamental tenets of constructing an authentic self on the page, the workshop will help you deepen your connection to your material, find ways to craft memorable and...

  • Upcoming Events

    06/08/13- 06/22/13	Writing Through It- Learning to Use Memoir as a Catalyst for Healing Writing Through It- Learning to Use Memoir as a Catalyst for Healing Presented by First Person Arts June 8-June 22, 2013 Playwright, poet, memoirist, and stand-up storyteller Jamie J. Brunson will lead this powerful workshop. Participants will discover their personal truths through memoir writing exercises. After sharing them with the group, they will be challenged to write about their future, using the past as a catalyst. About the Instructor: Jamie J. Brunson has brought storytelling to the stage within different spheres of the arts and cultural community for over 16 years. She served as...
    06/10/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: Overnight World Cafe Live - Philadelphia First Person Arts StorySlam: Overnight Presented by First Person Arts at World Cafe Live - Philadelphia June 10, 2013 A StorySlam is more than a storytelling competition. It's an invitation to share five minutes of your life in a room full of people who appreciate a well-told tale. Each night features a new theme, so the stories are always fresh and entertaining. Come lend an ear, or share an experience. Got five minutes? If you want to guarantee a table at the Slam, make a reservation with World Cafe Live! Call 215-222-1400 after 10:00 AM up until the Monday of the Slam.
    06/25/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: On the Road L'Etage First Person Arts StorySlam: On the Road Presented by First Person Arts at L'Etage June 25, 2013 A StorySlam is more than a storytelling competition. It's an invitation to share five minutes of your life in a room full of people who appreciate a well-told tale. Each night features a new theme, so the stories are always fresh and entertaining. Come lend an ear, or share an experience. Got five minutes? Want to skip the line and stake out the best seat in the house for any of our 2013 L’Etage StorySlams? Purchase VIP tickets online today and guarantee a spot in the...
    07/08/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: Criminal World Cafe Live - Philadelphia First Person Arts StorySlam: Criminal Presented by First Person Arts at World Cafe Live - Philadelphia July 8, 2013 A StorySlam is more than a storytelling competition. It's an invitation to share five minutes of your life in a room full of people who appreciate a well-told tale. Each night features a new theme, so the stories are always fresh and entertaining. Come lend an ear, or share an experience. Got five minutes? If you want to guarantee a table at the Slam, make a reservation with World Cafe Live! Call 215-222-1400 after 10:00 AM up until the Monday of the Slam.

• Current &
  Upcoming Events

  • Current Events

    05/14/13- 06/18/13

    Intro to Memoir Workshop- Crafting Believable and Compelling First Person Essays Intro to Memoir Workshop- Crafting Believable and Compelling First Person Essays Presented by First Person Arts May 14-June 18, 2013 If you don’t consider yourself a writer, then this workshop is for you. Journalers, dabblers, and dreamers welcome. This 6-week, hands-on workshop is designed to give you a solid foundation in the craft of writing personal essays and memoir. By investigating the fundamental tenets of constructing an authentic self on the page, the workshop will help you deepen your connection to your material, find ways to craft memorable and...

  • Upcoming Events

    06/08/13- 06/22/13	Writing Through It- Learning to Use Memoir as a Catalyst for Healing Writing Through It- Learning to Use Memoir as a Catalyst for Healing Presented by First Person Arts June 8-June 22, 2013 Playwright, poet, memoirist, and stand-up storyteller Jamie J. Brunson will lead this powerful workshop. Participants will discover their personal truths through memoir writing exercises. After sharing them with the group, they will be challenged to write about their future, using the past as a catalyst. About the Instructor: Jamie J. Brunson has brought storytelling to the stage within different spheres of the arts and cultural community for over 16 years. She served as...
    06/10/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: Overnight World Cafe Live - Philadelphia First Person Arts StorySlam: Overnight Presented by First Person Arts at World Cafe Live - Philadelphia June 10, 2013 A StorySlam is more than a storytelling competition. It's an invitation to share five minutes of your life in a room full of people who appreciate a well-told tale. Each night features a new theme, so the stories are always fresh and entertaining. Come lend an ear, or share an experience. Got five minutes? If you want to guarantee a table at the Slam, make a reservation with World Cafe Live! Call 215-222-1400 after 10:00 AM up until the Monday of the Slam.
    06/25/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: On the Road L'Etage First Person Arts StorySlam: On the Road Presented by First Person Arts at L'Etage June 25, 2013 A StorySlam is more than a storytelling competition. It's an invitation to share five minutes of your life in a room full of people who appreciate a well-told tale. Each night features a new theme, so the stories are always fresh and entertaining. Come lend an ear, or share an experience. Got five minutes? Want to skip the line and stake out the best seat in the house for any of our 2013 L’Etage StorySlams? Purchase VIP tickets online today and guarantee a spot in the...
    07/08/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: Criminal World Cafe Live - Philadelphia First Person Arts StorySlam: Criminal Presented by First Person Arts at World Cafe Live - Philadelphia July 8, 2013 A StorySlam is more than a storytelling competition. It's an invitation to share five minutes of your life in a room full of people who appreciate a well-told tale. Each night features a new theme, so the stories are always fresh and entertaining. Come lend an ear, or share an experience. Got five minutes? If you want to guarantee a table at the Slam, make a reservation with World Cafe Live! Call 215-222-1400 after 10:00 AM up until the Monday of the Slam.

• Past
  Events

  • Past Events

    04/23/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: Geek Out L'Etage
    04/08/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: Crush World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    03/28/13- 05/16/13	True North: Crafting the First Person Voice in Memoir
    03/26/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: Virtue and Vice L'Etage
    03/11/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: Girl Power World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    02/26/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: Danger L'Etage
    02/14/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: The Ex-Files World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    01/22/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: Free L'Etage
    01/14/13	First Person Arts StorySlam: Second Chances World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    12/18/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Gifts and Giving L'Etage
    12/14/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Home for the Holidays Philadelphia Museum of Art
    12/10/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Family Ties World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    11/17/12	PNC Arts Alive Story Day Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/16/12	Comedy Confessions with Corey Cohen Underground Arts
    11/16/12	Risk! Underground Arts
    11/15/12- 11/16/12	Street Grace Series: Native Portals of Lynching and Love Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/15/12- 11/16/12	The Taxi Tapes
    11/15/12- 11/16/12	FlyGround's Street Grace Series: Native Portals of Lynching and Love by Lela Aisha Jones Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/14/12	Conversation and Song with Sonia Sanchez, Bernice Johnson Reagon, and Toshi Reagon Christ Church Philadelphia
    11/11/12	Philly Reacts: 2012 in Review Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/11/12	Six Words on Jewish Life Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/10/12- 11/11/12	Humanizing History Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/10/12	Introduction to Storytelling with Adam Wade Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/10/12	Owning Your Story: A Penn LPS/MLA Workshop Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/10/12	Rick Nichols' Candyland Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/09/12- 11/10/12	The Adam Wade Family Hour Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/09/12- 11/10/12	The True Story, or Vicious and Multiple and Untrue After All Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/08/12	Grand Slam Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/07/12- 11/17/12	11th Annual First Person Arts Festival First Person Arts
    10/24/12	First Taste Fundraiser with Eric Asimov Omni Hotel at Independence Park
    10/20/12	Artistic Block Busters: Reclaim Your Creative Spark
    10/17/12- 12/12/12	Workshop Your Personal Essays or Memoir First Person Arts
    09/25/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Mission Immpossible L'Etage
    09/10/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Schooled World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    08/28/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Guilty Pleasures L'Etage
    08/25/12	Story Source: Finding Ideas in Everyday Experiences First Person Arts
    08/22/12- 10/03/12	Performance and Politics: Making Art as a Call to Action First Person Arts
    08/13/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Obsessed World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    08/06/12- 09/17/12	Introduction to Solo Theatre Performance University of the Arts - Terra Building
    07/24/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: In Transit L'Etage
    07/24/12- 08/09/12	Creating an Artistic Life Workshop First Person Arts
    07/23/12- 08/27/12	Dramatizing Life: From Interview to Performance First Person Arts
    07/10/12	Story Lab: StorySlam Workshop First Person Arts
    07/09/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Wild Things World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    07/07/12	Feeding Your Muse at Reading Terminal Market First Person Arts
    06/26/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Detours L'Etage
    06/19/12	Stripped Stories Union Transfer
    06/14/12- 08/02/12	Workshop Your Personal Essays or Memoir First Person Arts
    06/12/12	Story Lab: StorySlam Workshop First Person Arts
    06/11/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: My Favorite Mistake World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    06/11/12- 07/16/12	Performance Poetry and Finding Your Personal Truth First Person Arts
    04/24/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Your Mom L'Etage
    04/20/12	First Person StorySlam: Mistaken Identities Free Library of Philadelphia - Parkway Central Library
    04/09/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Identity Crisis World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    03/31/12- 04/01/12	Storytelling Master Class with Giulia Rozzi First Person Arts
    03/27/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Best Ever L'Etage
    03/14/12- 04/11/12	Future Best Self: A Writing Workshop First Person Arts
    03/12/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Around the World World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    02/28/12	StorySlam: Social Network L'Etage
    02/14/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: The Ex-Files World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    01/24/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Against the Odds L'Etage
    01/24/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Against the Odds L'Etage
    01/09/12	First Person Arts StorySlam: Daily Grind World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    12/27/11	StorySlam: Family Feud L'Etage
    12/12/11	First Person Arts StorySlam: Naughty or Nice World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    11/20/11	Get Real with Fourth Wall Arts Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/20/11	Humanizing History Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/20/11	A Small Act Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/19/11	Spoken Word with Spoken Soul 215 Painted Bride Art Center
    11/19/11	Comedic Storytelling Workshop Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/19/11	Post-It Note Diaries Painted Bride Art Center
    11/19/11	The SHE Project Painted Bride Art Center
    11/18/11	Philly Youth Poetry Movement: My Life in the 215 Painted Bride Art Center
    11/18/11- 11/19/11	Liberty City Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/18/11- 11/19/11	Stripped Stories Painted Bride Art Center
    11/18/11- 11/20/11	Closing Weekend at the First Person Festival Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/17/11	My So-Called Enemy: Film Screening and Peace Meal Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/16/11	Day of Honey: Book Reading and Dinner Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/16/11- 11/17/11	Exit Cuckoo (Nanny in Motherland) Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/15/11	Staging Your Life with Anthony Lawton Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/14/11- 11/15/11	Beaut Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/14/11- 11/15/11	Will You Accept This Friend Request? The Khyber
    11/13/11	Family Secrets Revealed
    11/13/11	Finding the Light Within Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/13/11	Peace is a Haiku Song
    11/13/11	Troubadours Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/12/11	Behind the Scenes at Reading Terminal Market with Rick Nichols Reading Terminal Market
    11/12/11- 11/19/11	Finding Your Voice: Memoir Writing with Lori L. Tharps (Part 1 and 2) Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/11/11- 11/19/11	Penn MLA Spotlight Series Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/11/11	Shucked: Oyster Dinner and Book Talk
    11/11/11- 11/12/11	The Adam Wade from NH Show The Khyber
    11/10/11	Fall Grand Slam and Soiree Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/10/11- 11/20/11	10th Anniversary First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art Christ Church Neighborhood House
    11/07/11	First Taste Fundraiser Omni Hotel at Independence Park
    10/25/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: Strange Encounters L'Etage
    10/10/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: Close Calls World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    09/27/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: Bad Idea L'Etage
    09/26/11	Hot Coffee: Film Screening and Discussion International House Philadelphia
    09/12/11	First Person StorySlams: Back To School World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    08/23/11	First Person StorySlams: After Hours L'Etage
    08/08/11	First Person StorySlams: Weird Trips World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    07/26/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: Small World L'Etage
    07/11/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: Neighbors World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    06/28/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: Do Overs L'Etage
    06/13/11	First Person StorySlams: Do The Right Thing World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    05/25/11	Summer Grand Slam and BBQ Christ Church Neighborhood House
    04/26/11	Slam Nation Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
    04/11/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: Inheritance World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    03/22/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: Almost Famous L'Etage
    03/14/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: Family Ties World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    02/22/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: Deception L'Etage
    02/14/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: The Ex-Files World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    01/25/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: Beasts L'Etage
    01/10/11	First Person Arts StorySlams: New Territory World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    12/28/10	First Person StorySlam: Holiday Spirit L'Etage
    12/13/10	First Person Arts StorySlam: Anniversaries World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    11/14/10	Family Matters: Writing Workshop with Beth Harpaz Painted Bride Art Center
    11/14/10	Transformative Acts: Performance Workshop with Dan Hoyle Painted Bride Art Center
    11/14/10	The Sandwich Generation Painted Bride Art Center
    11/14/10	Inside Hana’s Suitcase Painted Bride Art Center
    11/14/10	BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez: A Tribute in Word, Music and Dance The Baptist Temple
    11/13/10	Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields Painted Bride Art Center
    11/13/10	Storytelling Workshop with Elna Baker Painted Bride Art Center
    11/13/10	First Person RAW Presents Voices of Afghanistan Painted Bride Art Center
    11/13/10	Quiches, Kugels and Couscous Painted Bride Art Center
    11/13/10	Prison 101 Painted Bride Art Center
    11/12/10- 11/13/10	First Person RAW Presents My Salvation Has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey Painted Bride Art Center
    11/12/10- 11/13/10	First Person Raw Presents shiFt / transFer Painted Bride Art Center
    11/11/10- 11/13/10	The Real Americans: East Coast Premiere Painted Bride Art Center
    11/11/10- 11/12/10	The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance Painted Bride Art Center
    11/11/10	Patchwork Nation Painted Bride Art Center
    11/10/10	Fall Grand Slam and Soiree Painted Bride Art Center
    11/08/10- 11/14/10	First Person Festival Painted Bride Art Center
    11/08/10	First Taste Dinner and Silent Auction with Soledad O'Brien
    11/05/10- 12/18/10	The First Person Museum Painted Bride Art Center
    10/26/10	First Person StorySlam: Faking It L'Etage
    10/11/10	First Person StorySlam: Last Chance World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    10/02/10- 10/03/10	Roll Your Sleeves Up: The Art of Revision First Person Arts
    09/28/10	First Person StorySlam: Friends With Benefits L'Etage
    09/16/10- 09/21/10	The First Person Voice First Person Arts
    09/13/10	First Person StorySlam: It's In The Mail World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    09/13/10	The Philadelphia Non-Denominational Anyone Can Tell a Story Workshop Painted Bride Art Center
    09/10/10	Fall Grand Slam and Soiree Painted Bride Art Center
    08/24/10	First Person StorySlam: Bad Company L'Etage
    08/09/10	First Person StorySlam: Off The Charts World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    07/27/10	First Person StorySlam: Dates To Remember L'Etage
    07/24/10	Summer Grand Slam and Block Party Painted Bride Art Center
    07/20/10	Queer Memoir: Sticks and Stones The Rotunda
    07/12/10	First Person StorySlam: Criminal Intent World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    06/24/10	Edible World: The Spice Necklace Chestnut Hill Farmer's Market
    06/22/10	First Person StorySlam: Epic Fail L'Etage
    06/14/10	First Person StorySlam: Payback L'Etage
    05/25/10	First Person StorySlam: Faulty Logic L'Etage
    05/11/10	Spilling Your Guts University of the Arts - Arts Bank
    05/10/10	First Person StorySlam: No Way Out World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    05/10/10	Celebrate Arts & Aging with: First Person StorySlam: No Way Out World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    04/27/10	First Person StorySlam: Whoppers L'Etage
    04/17/10	Second Annual First Person Inter-City StorySlam: Philly vs. Washington D.C. Free Library of Philadelphia - Central Branch
    04/12/10	First Person StorySlam: Perfect Storm World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    04/11/10	Edible World: Sunday Supper and Family Lore Bridget Foy's
    03/23/10	First Person StorySlam: Gifts L'Etage
    03/09/10	Warning: Graphic Content Bryn Mawr Film Institute
    03/08/10	First Person StorySlam: Funeral World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    02/23/10	First Person StorySlam: Emergency L'Etage
    02/22/10- 03/12/10	Funsavers Memberships Deal: First Person Arts First Person Arts
    02/08/10	First Person StorySlam: First Impression World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    01/26/10	January StorySlam at L'Etage L'Etage
    01/11/10	January StorySlam at World Cafe Live World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    11/08/09	First Person Festival: The Girl from Foreign Painted Bride Art Center
    11/08/09	L.W.O.P - Life Without Parole Painted Bride Art Center
    11/08/09	William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe Painted Bride Art Center
    11/08/09	Sweet Tea Painted Bride Art Center
    11/08/09	Still Bill Painted Bride Art Center
    11/07/09	Workshops Painted Bride Art Center
    11/07/09	Life/Story Painted Bride Art Center
    11/07/09	The Guinea Pig Diaries Painted Bride Art Center
    11/07/09	Grand Slam Painted Bride Art Center
    11/07/09	Inside the Writer's Notebook Pagano's Market
    11/07/09	Animal Magnetism Painted Bride Art Center
    11/07/09	Obsolete & Whining Painted Bride Art Center
    11/06/09	Karaoke Obsessed Painted Bride Art Center
    11/06/09	Shelter Opening Reception Painted Bride Art Center
    11/06/09	Going to Extremes Painted Bride Art Center
    11/05/09	Salon du Festival Painted Bride Art Center
    11/05/09	How to Fix the World Painted Bride Art Center
    11/04/09	America Eats Painted Bride Art Center
    11/04/09- 11/07/09	Speakeasy Opening Night Reception Painted Bride Art Center
    11/04/09	XPN Welcomes Songs for Any Depression Painted Bride Art Center
    11/03/09	Edible World: Foobooz Burger Cruise One South Broad Street
    04/28/09	First Person Arts StorySlam L'Etage
    03/11/09- 10/14/09	First Person Salons University of the Arts