SECURE YOUR PLACE AT THE ALLEY
If you are a small, local org, or an independent artist, we especially want to hear from you…. Miami Book Fair is seeking proposals for activities and performances in various areas, including art, music, theater, science and tech, health and wellness, and more for Children’s Alley. Our team works with local organizations, artists, and makers of all kinds to provide a robust sampling of our community’s rich culture at Children’s Alley.
Take part in a beloved, year-round event that connects you with Miami-area kids and families.
Children’s Alley is a diverse educational playground that offers multiple opportunities for learning fun through reading, writing, storytelling, arts and crafts, live music, and theatrical performances, attracting thousands of visitors to the annual Miami Book Fair. We partner with a host of relevant organizations each year to make sure the Alley has something for everyone, presented across three main hubs that engage kids and their families through hands-on activities and interactive experiences that foster a lifelong love of books and learning, all in a festive outdoor setting.
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LEARN!
INTERACTIVE & EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES OR PERFORMANCES
We’re seeking dynamic demonstrations and educational activities that engage kids in science, tech, nature, and even music. Each activity/presentation should be 30-40 minutes in length, maximum, and include an interactive or hands-on component so kids remain engaged and participatory while learning.
Compensation: Up to $400 for one session. We will also consider proposals that include multiple presentations, with compensation determined via package rates on a case-by-case basis.
CREATE!
HANDS-ON ARTS WORKSHOPS
We’re seeking artists in all mediums to conduct hands-on workshops, ideally inspired by a children’s book. Each workshop should serve approximately 30 children and be no more than 45 minutes in length.
Compensation: $200 for one workshop; Miami Book Fair will handle the ordering of art supplies and the costs associated with that.
PARTICIPATE!
ENTERTAINMENT FOR KIDS & FAMILIES
We’re seeking high-energy acts that can include theater, interactive storytelling (bilingual English/Spanish or English/Haitian Creole welcomed), music, participatory crowd games, sideshow and circus acts, and more. Performances are meant to engage the entire family, and each act should be no longer than 45 minutes.
Note: The Participate! outdoor stage is a main component of the Alley and can be seen and experienced no matter where you stand on the Children’s Alley plaza. It can accommodate musicians but is limited to smaller bands with pared-down instrumentation.
Compensation: Determined on a case-by-case basis. Please include your estimate in your proposal, which can include multiple performances.
CHILDREN’S ALLEY PLAZA BOOTH
We’re also seeking proposals to activate a 12′ x 12′ open-air canopy on the perimeter of the Children’s Alley plaza. We’re open to all organizations, large and small, whose mission is to engage families in the cultural arts, mindfulness, or science and tech. The booth cannot solely offer promotional materials for your organization; it must be programmed with activities that kids and families can engage with throughout the weekend. Past booths have included robotics displays and demonstrations, sensory-based activities, storytimes, art activities, and more. The booth must be open and offer ongoing activities all three days the Alley is open, no exceptions: Friday, November 17, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, November 18-19, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Compensation: We do not offer compensation for the plaza booth; it is an in-kind donation to the selected organization.
ABOUT MIAMI BOOK FAIR
MBF began as a two-day event in November 1984 known as Books by the Bay. In the four decades since, we’ve evolved into an annual eight-day festival typically featuring more than 500 authors, tens of thousands of attendees, 150+ national and international book exhibitors, and an eclectic schedule of literary, cultural, and educational events, supported by 1,000+ volunteers. Today it is the largest and longest-running literary festival in the nation, featuring author presentations, educational programming, children’s activities, music, dance, visual arts, theater, creative writing workshops, and a three-day street fair. We’ve also grown to provide literacy-boosting and community-building programming year-round for children, youth, and adults.