People’s State of the Union Story Circle at the Parrish

Diverse members of the East End community are gathering at the Parrish Art Museum on Friday, January 27, at 6 p.m. to share their experiences and thoughts at a 2017 People's State of the Union Story Circle. The free event, one of hundreds that are taking place nationwide, is part of an annual civic tradition rooted in the belief that democracy is a conversation, not a monologue. Registration for the event is open to all East End residents age 15 and older. Current participants include artists, therapists, poets, veterans, educators, and community leaders.

“The Story Circle aims to create a space for sharing and listening and to bring together our communities at the Parrish,” said Corinne Erni, Curator of Special Projects at the Parrish. “It is open to everyone who cares about the condition of our nation and wants to have a voice, and we encourage all members of the community to participate.”

The People’s State of the Union Story Circle is an invitation to anyone to host a national conversation in their homes, schools, houses of worship, cultural institutions, and community centers. The concept was created by the “U.S. Department of Arts and Culture” (USDAC), an artists’ collective that is neither an official agency nor affiliated in any way with the federal government. The USDAC defines itself as “a people-powered movement dedicated to cultivating empathy, equity, and social imagination.”

At the Parrish, participants will join together in the Lichtenstein Theater in small circles of about eight people each to tell stories and discuss topics in a conversation facilitated by a moderator. After the Story Circles, the stories and images will be uploaded to an online platform, yielding a body of work that can be searched and shared, inspiring new ideas and new actions. In addition, the Parrish will invite poets from the East End to compose works inspired by the stories shared, to be performed on April 7 at the Museum.

Space is limited and reservations are required. Please visit parrishart.org or email info@parrishart.org for more information and to RSVP.