How do you identify? What makes you passionate about who you are?

How do express your identity? Asexual, Anarchist, Athiest?

Do you want to talk about it?

Put your book in our library and share your story!

As part of the 2013 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival in partnership with grunt gallery, Vancouver will be hosting a Human Library.

We are currently looking for people who self-identify as being parts of communities that are often met with prejudice, misunderstanding, stereotype or hatred.

The Human Library is an international phenomenon, having appeared in sixty-five countries over the past twelve years. Originating in Denmark, the project was introduced to fight hate in communities through an innovative method designed to promote dialogue, reduce prejudices and encourage understanding. The Library enables groups to break stereotypes by challenging the most common prejudices in a positive/humorous manner.

Our Human Library project allows audience members to “check out” a human book for 20 minutes for an informal one-on-one conversation. This gives the human books a platform to tell their story and converse with a single audience member at a time.

Where: Vancouver Public Library Central Branch
When: 12 pm-4 pm, January 18-20, January 25-27, February 1-3
Minimum requirement: One day/weekend

Additionally, the Human Library Curator (Dave Deveau) will be hosting two workshops leading up to the festival to help prepare the books for the experience and help them all shape their stories.

In total, being a Human Book represents a 20-hour time commitment. It is important to note that as part of the stipulations of the Human Library Organization this is a volunteer opportunity.

Interested?

• Send us your Human Library title(s).
• Share with us what kinds of stories, challenges, anecdotes and/or stereotypes you might interface with as your Human Library title.
• Can you engage an audience member in a 20-minute conversation?
• What makes you passionate about this project and about who you are and what title you may represent?

Applicants must be available for the 20-hour time commitment including workshops. Please send your materials to Human Library Curator Dave Deveau at davedeveau@gmail.com. Apply by December 1st, 2012 at 4:00PM.