Here at First Person Arts, we always like to keep up with our former staff, especially when they’re doing really cool things like spearheading the launch of a Philly lit mag!

Nick Forrest, our former administrative assistant, is leaving Philly for the University of Montana to get his MFA in Creative Writing. However, before going off into the wilderness, Nick is one of the founding editors at APIARY Magazine, Philly’s up and coming lit mag and blog.

APIARY has been praised by Eric Smith, founder of Geekadelphia, who says, “This journal gives a voice to those drowning under the waves of other writers already coasting along. It’s important. It’s necessary…”, as well as The City Paper, ArtBlog, and more! With a mission of bringing together writers of different ages, races, religions, and crafts, the magazine is about to launch and celebrate its second Issue on June 3rd. Unlike other magazines, the editors at APIARY travel across the city to workshops, open mics, readings, and school classrooms to find all of the different voices that make Philadelphia so full of life and energy!

You definitely do not want to miss out on APIARY’s launch party on June 3rd in the PhillyCAM studios of the Painted Bride Art Center, 5-10 PM. The Event will include readings and live music from local hip-hop artist Kuf Knotz. There will also be a half-hour show of poetry performances and interviews called “The APIARY Mixtape” which was filmed in collaboration with public access channel PhillyCAM.

Congratulations, Nick!

- Laura Reeve

The Philadelphia Film Society is showing a screening of the documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty on Wednesday, March 31st. As a special treat, a moderated discussion with director Don Hahn will take place afterward. Plus, the First Person Arts community is getting a special discounted price. See details below!


Hahn was a key player at Walt Disney Studios Feature Animation department during the 1984-1994 revival of Disney magic through classics like Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. Waking Sleeping Beauty shows the vulnerable side of Disney after its series of box office flops. Through interviews, internal memos, and home movies, the documentary captures it all. Everything from the growing tensions because of ego battles, cost overruns and failed experiments to its improbable renaissance.

Here’s an interview with Don Hahn after a screening in Austin, Texas.



Check out the screening at 7:30pm on Wednesday, March 31st at the Prince Music Theater. Discounted tickets are $7.00 (regular ticket price is $10) and can be purchased one of two ways. You can click here, select the number of tickets you want, and enter promotion code fpa2010, or just mention First Person Arts at the door.


Don’t miss out on what The Los Angeles Times is calling “one of the best comeback stories in show business history.”


-Tiffany Thwaites

So yesterday morning was a big day for Philly arts and culture. In addition to JJ Tiziou’s superhuge mural announcement, the Kimmel Center officially unveiled the Philadelphia International Festival of Art (a.k.a. PIFA). The multidisciplinary arts festival will take place April 7 thru May 1, 2011. And in addition to such amazing Philadelphia performers/institutions like The Roots, the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra, First Person Arts will be getting into the act too!


Dan, Vicki and I were there yesterday for the unveiling, which brought together art and culture makers/supporters from across the city.


Stay tuned for the official announcement of programming on April 7th and how First Person Arts will be involved in the “Collaboration, Creativity and Innovation” of PIFA!

Gentleman, scholar, storyteller, Kevin Lee is a favorite among many of the participants in the StorySlams.  Here’s his Grand Slam performance: 

Here’s the trailer for a short documentary about urban fishing in Philadelphia that will screen for the first time at the First Person Salon at the Gershman Y on September 10th:

In addition, this final Salon before the 2008 Festival will feature poetry from Robert Wright, autobiographical comedy from Steve Gerben and Pat Barker, and a short memoir reading and documentary film from Angel Hogan about her life as an adoptee.

First Person Salon at the Gershman Y

401 S. Broad St (Broad and Pine)

September 10th, 7-9pm

Cost: $5-$10 sliding scale

Beer available by donation from our friends at Flying Dog!