First OUTSpoken Workshop

About

OUTSpoken is a third-year program from the Sundress Academy for the Arts (SAFTA). Our goal is to create a platform for the LGBTQ community of Knoxville, Tennessee, and its surrounding areas to record and perform the experiences of sex- and gender-diverse individuals in the South. Through a series of workshops culminating in a staged reading, OUTSpoken hopes to foster a dialogue between the LGBTQ community and others. As LGBTQ issues gain greater visibility, it is crucial that we explore the complexities of sex and gender diversity respectfully. That said, we realize that unity cannot and must not be silent, and that in order to create a meaningful dialogue, we must acknowledge and listen to the stories, experiences, grievances, arguments, and counterarguments of all sex- and gender-diverse persons. Part of this process includes showcasing those poems, narratives, performances, and creative works of a wide range of individuals, including those whose experiences demonstrate intersectional issues. It is our sincerest hope that this project will illuminate the struggles of Southern LGBTQ persons and celebrate sex and gender diversity in East Tennessee and beyond. On-site participants will be invited to participate in three workshops over the course of three months in order to create, edit, and produce a piece of art to be performed during our OUTSpoken events in Summer 2016. In these workshops, attendees will have the opportunity to work with professionals in the given arts (performance, prose, and poetry) in order to compose and tell their stories their way. Workshops will be held on January 23rd, February 20th, and March 26th, 2016 and run from 1PM to 3PM at the Sundress Academy for the Arts in Knoxville, Tennessee. The cost for the workshop is $25 for one, $45 for two, or $60 for all three. (Please note that participants must attend at least two on-site workshops in order for their work to be eligible for performance at the OUTSpoken events.)