The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC), 10950 SW 211 St. in Cutler Bay, and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, with funding and support from The Children’s Trust, will present the 12th annual free All Kids Included Family Arts Festival for children and families of all abilities on Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The All Kids Included (AKI) Family Arts Festival is presented annually as a free innovative, multidisciplinary community arts festival for children and families with and without disabilities, and features a district-wide student art competition, inclusive student field trips to the festival, arts-infused teacher trainings, and a fun-filled community festival day featuring interactive arts activities, live performances, giveaways, and community resources for parents.
Each component of the AKI Festival is designed to be fully inclusive, utilizing access technology and offering accommodations such as ASL interpretation, assistive listening, large print, Braille, and Sensory-Friendly programs.
For information the public can call 786-573-5300 or visit www.smdcac.org.
Special highlights of the 2017 All Kids Included Festival include: Sensory-Friendly main stage production of The Gruffalo, adapted from the acclaimed children’s book and performances by Mandy Harvey, a deaf American jazz and pop singer/songwriter and star of America’s Got Talent. The festival also will feature ASL storytelling by Waving Hands; Zot Artz – Arts for All adaptive painting and print making; performances by The Children’s Voice Chorus; Greater Miami Youth Symphony, Ballet at the Park, and Area Stage’s Inclusive Theater Program.
The main stage shows will offer accessible accommodations for individuals with Sensory Processing Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The theater will provide an accepting and inclusive environment, modifications to sound and lighting, noise canceling headsets, a quiet room and the Going to the Show guide to preparing new audiences for a live theatre experience. Going to the Show can be found online at http://www.miamidadearts.org/education/going-show.
Other performances throughout the day include: Didgeridoo Fun with Jared Bistrong; Drumming for Wellness with Jeff Deen; Guitars Over Guns; Thomas Armour Youth Ballet; DJ Trooklyn with Teen DJ guests DJ Panda Flo, DJ Massacro and DJ Cairoben; African Watoto Dance Theater; Cutler Bay Senior High School’s SharkPAC and more.
A special exhibition of the All Kids Included annual district-wide student art competition winners will be on display.
The festival will feature: a free book giveaway of the children’s illustrated book, We’re All Wonders (limit one book per family, while supplies last), fun food, rock climbing wall, and face painters.
In addition, many great community resources such as: Arts for Learning; Exceptional Student Education and Student Support Center; History Miami; Miami-Dade Public Library Systems; STARS Autism School, Waving Hands, and others.
Volunteers for the event are welcome! To volunteer send email to volunteer@smdcac.org or call 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).
For more information about AKI and all its programs visit www.AllKidsIncludedMiami.org.
