DEEP CARNIVALE: A CELEBRATION OF WORDS, Tampa's literature festival, takes place Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13, 2009 in Ybor City.
On Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM, dozens of authors, poets, songwriters and artists will present work on multiple stages in the Performing Arts Building of Hillsborough Community College, Ybor City Campus, corner of 14th Street and Palm Avenue. The event is free and open to the public.
Susan Hussey Tribute
A special tribute to author, playwright and poet Susan Hussey will end the day's programming and will be held at 5 PM - 6 PM on the Mainstage of the HCC-Ybor Performing Arts Building. Ms. Hussey recently passed away and numerous area authors, poets and actors will honor her talent with performances of scenes from various plays and readings of Susan's prose and poems.
As founder of Gorilla Theatre with her husband, Aubrey Hampton of Aubrey Organics, Susan was a powerful supporter of the cultural scene in Tampa. The event is free and open to the public. Plenty of free parking at this time of day in Ybor City.
John Leland Keynote
The festival's keynote speaker will be John Leland of the New York Times. Mr. Leland is the author of "Why Kerouac Matters: The Lessons of On the Road (They're Not What You Think)" and another on American pop culture titled, "Hip: The History". He will present a program Saturday afternoon on pop culture's influence on modern individuality, and the diversity and impact of Hip-Hop as a social and cultural phenomenon.
Ybor Arts Scene
On Sunday, a tribute to the Three Birds Bookstore and Ybor arts scene of the 80's-90's will take place at the Don Vicente de Ybor Inn, 1915 14th Street, from 1 PM-5 PM. One dollar donation. Also on Sunday, a celebration of songwriters and the lyric, spoken word and a program of performances honoring the Beat Generation takes place at the New World Brewery, 1313 E. 8th Ave, Ybor City, 2--9 PM. $5.00, all ages.
About Deep Carnivale
Organized by the Artists and Writers Group, Inc., in partnership with Hillsborough Community College-Ybor City Campus, this is the third year of a celebration of writing and reading that brings artists representing a diverse range of writing styles, ages, experience, and cultural backgrounds together to share their love of literature and related art forms with the Tampa Bay community.
Deep Carnivale presents art and activities for all ages, from the playful to the avant garde. Children's Future Hillsborough will provide activities for children ages 4-12, with a wide array of supervised literacy, reading and arts activities.
In addition to readings and art installations, numerous book and publishing house vendors, authors signing tables, writers associations and related organizations, refreshments and live music will add ambience to festival.
What people had to say about last year's Deep Carnivale: A Celebration of Words:
"[A]n impressive event... a gift that hopefully will continue to grow."
-Steve Otto, Tampa Tribune
"If you love literature, there's no better place to be on Saturday than Ybor City."
-Colette Bancroft, St. Pete Times
The Artists and Writers Group, Inc.
Recently reorganized from its previous incarnation in the 1970's-80's, when it was known for unique events, including the famed and notorious Artists and Writers balls in Ybor City, the Group is now devoted to creating partnerships with interested organizations to provide stimulating opportunities for the community to express and share its creativity. The partners and sponsors are dedicated to supporting the Tampa Bay area cultural community with events such as Deep Carnivale: Celebration of Words, Homemade Music Symposium, and the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image.
This event is organized with seed funds from the Ybor City Development Corporation and is presented in partnership with Hillsborough Community College-Ybor City Campus and Children's Future Hillsborough.
If you are interested in being one of our featured artists, authors, vendors, or sponsors, or for general inquiries please contact David Audet daudet@hccfl.edu, or call 813-253-7000 x5179 at the Hillsborough Community College-Ybor City Campus, 2112 N. 15th Street, Tampa, Florida 33675.
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