By Kathy Henderson

The St. Anthony Park Public Library is known for offering creative programming each October when children have a school break during the annual Education Minnesota’s MEA conference.

This year is no exception.

The Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre is scheduled to return to the SAP Library during MEA school break to conduct two sessions of puppetry and mask-making workshops for children ages 6 and older.

The workshops are set for 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, and Friday, Oct. 18, in the library auditorium at 2245 Como Ave. No registration is required, and children can attend one or both of the workshops. Parents and caregivers are welcome, too.

The Heart of the Beast was last at the library in the early summer, helping participants create bird puppets to fly in the St. Anthony Park Fourth of July parade.

In its work with children, the Heart of the Beast has been using a familiar recipe for more than 50 years. The ingredients are: “Start with cardboard, fabric and color. Add a large measure of imagination and a dollop of artistry to make stories about our world come alive.”

In addition, the Heart of the Beast has earned a reputation for delivering exceptional learning experiences to students of all abilities and learning styles.

The teaching artists for the upcoming October library workshops will be Tara Fahey and Emma Ruddock.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.

The Minnesota Educator Academy, as MEA is officially known, traditionally takes place on the third Thursday of October. 

Submitted St. Anthony Park Public Library. Kathy Henderson is a freelance writer for the Bugle.

Photo credit: Community members participate in a Heart of the Beast Theater puppet-making workshop. Photo courtesy of In the Heart of the Beast Theater.