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First Person Arts
Since 2000, First Person Arts has provided a stage for memoir and documentary art in Philadelphia.
Guided by the belief that everyone has a story to tell and telling our stories connects us with each other and the world, First Person Arts offers an outlet for everyone to share, from accomplished artists to everyday people.
First Person Arts empowers the storyteller that lives inside of everyone by hosting workshops for aspiring authors and storytellers, producing arts programs that invite spectators to get involved and offering opportunities for established artists to engage with their audiences.
Every year, First Person Arts hosts the popular First Person Arts Festival, which features multiple days of performances, films, workshops and more. The festival is the only one of its kind in the world, drawing award-winning writers, filmmakers, visual artists and performers to Philadelphia to share personal stories.
The group also hosts StorySlams, an open-to-all monthly storytelling competition. Each event is guided by a specific theme. Competitors share their true stories with the crowd, who judge the lineup and declare a winner.
The First Person Arts YouTube channel includes archived videos of past performances.
Stories can also be heard on the organization’s podcast, as well as on Commonspace, a monthly radio hour on WHYY National Public Radio.
The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia) and overnight hotel accommodations.