South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC) and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, with funding and support from The Children’s Trust, will present the ninth annual free All Kids Included Family Arts Festival–Seeds of Kindness for children and families of all abilities on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., at SMDCAC, 10950 SW 211 St. Cutler Bay.
“All Kids Included (AKI)” is an innovative, interdisciplinary community arts festival for children with or without disabilities, created with funding from The Children’s Trust and produced in partnership with Arts for Learning, and VSA Florida, and with the support of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. For information the public can call 786-573-5300 or visit www.smdcac.org.
Special highlights of the All Kids Included Festival include: Sensory-friendly main stage performances of Peter Pan by Miami Children’s Theater as well as performances by Brazilian Voices, Magic Morgan, and Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band.
The main stage shows will offer accessible accommodations for individuals with Sensory Processing Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The theater will provide modifications to sound and lighting, noise canceling headsets, a quiet room and a special pre-show guide to preparing new audiences for a live theater experience. The pre-show guide also can be found online at www.miamidadearts.org/education/goingshow.
Culture Shock Miami, the $5 arts ticket program for ages 13-22, will program a fun outdoor stage with performances by The Rodiles, School of Rock, and other exciting community performers. For more information about Culture Shock visit cultureshockmiami.com.
Also featured as part of the festival are inclusive art projects from Arts for Learning and “Zot Artz-Arts for All” adaptive painting and printmaking with Miami- Dade County Parks Disability Services.
Other performances during the festival include: Greater Miami Youth Symphony; Storytelling with Carrie Sue Ayvar; Drumming for Wellness with Jeff Deen; John Paul Jebian, American Sign Language Storyteller; Karen Peterson and Dancers; Miss Vilma’s Dance Studio; Tango demonstrations with Carina Losano; African Dance performances by African Watoto Dance Theatre; Thomas Armour Youth Ballet; Fantasy Theatre presents “Fantasy Stew” and more!
A special exhibition of the All Kids Included Festival’s district-wide student art competition winners will be on display.
The festival will feature a give-away of a children’s book titled The Boy Who Grew Flowers by Jen Wojtowicz (while they last), fun food, rock wall, strolling entertainers, costumed characters, balloon artists, face painters, and a free bike helmet fitting and giveaway by Kohl’s Cares Childhood Injury Prevention Program (while they last).
In addition, many great community resources such as Arts for Learning; CCDH; Deerwood Bonita Lakes Park/Miami-Dade County Parks; Division of Blind Services; Exceptional Student Education and Student Support Center; History Miami; Macaroni Kid; Mainstreet Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics; Miami-Dade Election Department; Miami- Dade Public Library Systems; Rec Connection; STARS Autism School, The Miami Herald, Waving Hands, and others. Volunteers for the event are welcome! To volunteers; contact volunteer@smdcac.org or 786-573-5301.
The All Kids Included Family Arts Festival is designed to be inclusive for children and families of all abilities. The facility is accessible; assistive listening devices, sign language interpreters, sighted guides, and large print and Braille program information will be available. To request materials in accessible format, and/or any accommodation to attend an event at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, guests may contact Stephanie Aponte 786-573-5314 or saponte@miamidade.gov at least five days in advance to initiate their request. TYY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).
