The Swamp Gravy Institute

   The SGI, an arts service organization, is the consulting and training arm of the Colquitt/Miller County Arts Council in southwest Georgia. SGI is the outgrowth of Swamp Gravy, Georgia's official folk-life play. Composed of a volunteer cast, "Swamp Gravy" has brought a new vitality, unity and sense of pride and hope to this region of the state.
   The purpose of SGI is to catalyze the replication of this spirit in other communities and organizations through short-term story-based consults and custom-designed training academies that combine its own unique story-based artistry with planning and reflective methods developed by the Institute of Cultural Affairs (see www.ica-usa.org and www.icaworld.org).
   The basic design of an onsite SGI consult begins with storytelling circles on Friday morning and afternoon, when local residents get to share and role-play their life experiences. On Friday night, a performance of Swamp Gravy vignettes is open to the public. On Saturday, 8-10 local participants are trained in oral-history interviewing. Vignette performances are repeated during Sunday-morning church services, and an implementation planning session on Sunday afternoon organizes and equips a local core to follow up their vision of a story-based revitalization project.
   SGI is composed of a consultant core of veteran Swamp Gravy cast members coordinated by Swamp Gravy founder Joy Jinks and ICA staff member Bill Grow. SGI is funded through paid consults requested by community representatives who have first experienced a "Swamp Gravy" performance in Colquitt. SGI has conducted programs El Paso, Tex.; Belle Glade and Walton Co., Fl; Columbia, La.; Wapakoneta, Oh.; Yampa Valley and Denver, Co.; Tarboro, NC; Adelanto, CA; Winona, MS; several Georgia communities and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil