Karen Golden is a dynamic performer who delights even the most discriminating listener with an insightful blend of stories, music and philosophical musings about the great adventures of being human!

Karen Golden has been a featured performer at hundreds of museums, schools, clubs, universities, synagogues, libraries, festivals, and conferences throughout the nation.

A SHORT LIST OF SELECTED PERFORMANCE VENUES
  
 • International Schools in China, S. Korea, Hong Kong, and Peru
 • National Storytelling Conference • Los Angeles County Museum Of Art
 • The Getty Center
 • Da Camera Society Concerts 
 • Pasadena Symphony
 • Ventura Jewish Festival
 • California Homeschool Network Expo
 • Pacific Storytelling Festival
 • Conference on Alternative Jewish Education
 • UCLA Armand Hammer Museum Of Art

TEACHING ARTIST
• 2009-Present: Founder and Director of Creative Learning Place. Develops curriculum, teaches and produces classes for home schooled students (creativelearningplace.com).
• 2017-Present: Pressman School, teaching artist.
• 2018 DreamOn Storytelling Tour, Peru 64 storytelling performances and workshops over one month.
• 2010-2018: Emerson Academy. Storytelling residency with special needs students, many non-verbal.
• 2013-2017 Kehilat Israel Pre-School. Storytelling residency.
• 2016 DreamOn Storytelling Tour in China, S. Korea and Hong Kong, 48 storytelling performances and workshops over one month.
• 2013-2014: Jewish Enrichment Club. Storytelling residency and service learning club facilitator.
• 2014: Rio Vista Elementary School, Santa Clarita. Storytelling residency.  • 2011-2012: Yerba Buena Elementary School. Storytelling residency.
 • 2011-2012: White Oak Elementary School. Storytelling residency.
 • 2010-2011: Wildwood Elementary School. Weekly storytelling assemblies.

SELECTED GRANTS, AWARDS, CITATIONS
 • 2014: National Storytelling Association Members Grant for "My Story My Voice" giving voice to non-verbal autistic teens.
 • 2012: San Gabriel Jewish Federation Education Grant for “Torah Talk.” Bring the Torah to life through storytelling.
 • 2007: National Association of Parenting Publications (NAAPA) Honor Award for her audio recording, “Pass It On.”
 • 2007: Storytelling World Honor Award for her audio recording, “Pass It On.”
 • 2005: National Association Of Parenting Publications (NAPPA) Gold Award for her audio recording, “Tales And Scales.”
 • 1997-1999: Beverly Hills Public Library Grant for teaching a series of storytelling workshops for children with a final student concert.
 • 1996-1999: California Arts Council Grant for teaching a series of storytelling workshops for at-risk youth with three performances by participants.
 • 1995-1996: LA Cultural Affairs Department Grant for teaching a series of storytelling workshops for visually-impaired adults and at-risk youth with a final concert by participants.
 • 1994: Michigan Literacy Project Grant for teaching a series of workshops to students on finding and telling personal stories.
 • 1994: Michigan Schools Grant for touring a one-women show “A Walk Around the World in Stories and Shoes.”
 • 1994: “History Alive” Grant in Malibu, CA for teaching eighth-grade students to create and tell oral narratives from history.
 • 1994: “Pick Of The Week,” USA Today for her audio recording, “Tales And Scales: Stories Of  Jewish Wisdom.”

SEMINARS, COACHING, CONSULTING
 • 1990-Present: Speech and presentation coach for UCLA Medical School, US Courthouse Trial Practice Persuasion Institute, American Public Radio, and many more.
 • Coached and consulted with numerous authors, physicians, lawyers, teachers, professional speakers, actors, and clergy.
 • 1995: UCLA Business School, Business Communication Instructor.
 • 1990-Present: Led workshops on networking and the uses of storytelling skills in the workplace for the National Speakers Association, Women's Referral Service, Speakers For Free Inc., Careermotion, Chambers of Commerce, and many more.

PRODUCTION & ORGANIZATION
 
 • 1991-2018 Self-produced eight one-woman shows.
 • 2018 Produced and directed the Moonwater Farm Earth Day Storytelling Festival
 • 1994-2007: Producer and performer in the “With Our Words” Adult Storytelling Collective, Beverly Hills, CA.
 • 1998: Organized the “Family Storytelling Festival” at My Jewish Discovery Place Museum, Los Angeles, CA.
 • 1992-1995: Co-coordinator of the storytelling area, Summer Solstice Festival, Calabassas, CA.
 • 1994: Produced a storytelling concert for the LA Public Library Earthquake Relief.
 • 1991: Coordinated and performed at the University of Judaism Storytelling Festival.
 • 1991: Coordinated and performed at the Los Angeles Jewish Federation Showcase of Performing Artists.

COMMISSIONED ORIGINAL STORIES (developed content and performed)
 • 2009, 2012: Skirball Museum and Cultural Center, “Hannukah Shows.”
 • 2011: Lawndale Community Mural Project, “Past, Present, Future.”
 • 2004-Present: Getty Family Festivals, featuring slides from the collection.
 • 2000: Sony Pictures Mural Project, “The History of Culver City.”
 • 2000: The Zimmer Discovery Children‘s Museum, “The Life Of Max Zimmer.”
 • 1999: American Red Magen David for Israel,“The Ambulance with the Tzedekah Music.”
 • 1999: Union of American Hebrew Congregations, “Honoring Rabbi Janet Marder—20 years in the Rabbinate.”
 • 1998: City of West Hollywood, “Project Unity-Celebrating Diversity.”
 • 1998: IVS Industry, created three interactive stories for this new car technology.
 • 1997: Monterey Public Library, “Maria’s Brooch: A Monterey Mystery from the Pages of History”
 • 1996: Ballet Village Dance Arts of Claremont, CA, an original adaptation of “The Snow Maiden.”
 • 1994: Loyala University, “Name-Face,” a monologue spoken during a live dance performance, based on the stories of five dancers.
 • 1992: California Association of Midwifes, “A Midwife's Scrapbook,” a one-woman show on the history of midwifery and childbirth.
 • 1992: Jewish Historical Society, “Solomon Carvalho—The First Jewish Photographer,” a biographical storytelling performance.
 • 1991: Lancaster Museum and Art Gallery, “The Life And Times Of Amelia Earhart and Pancho Barnes.” This one-woman show traveled to over twenty-five venues.

WORKSHOPS AND COURSES
 • 1993-Present: Guest faculty: Loyola Marymount University, California State University-Northridge, American Jewish University.
 • 1991-2000: Exploring Personal Stories” an on-going weekly workshop for adults. 
 • 1991-2000: Lecturer and teacher of storytelling at the University of Judaism and Road Scholar.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Karen's articles have appeared in:

 • LA Voyage Magazine
 • Storytelling Magazine
 • Communication Research Magazine
 • The Jewish Calendar Magazine
 • Storytelling World Magazine
 • Sharing Ideas Newsmagazine
 • Being Jewish, Stories
 • The Telling Times
 • The Story Bag Newsletter

Karen’s Original Stories Appear In:
 • 2018: “Wisdom From Reb Zalman: Embracing The Jewish Spirit ,” edited by Goldie Milgram, Reclaiming Judaism Press, NY
 • 2002: “One People, Many Stories: Jewish Stories For Children from Around The World,” audio recording. Produced by Johanna Cooper.
 • 2001: “The Jewish Year Celebrating the Holidays,” edited by Barbara Rush, Stewart, Tabori & Chang, New York.
 • 2000: “Dancing on the Edge of the World: Jewish Stories Of Faith, Inspiration And Love,” edited by Miryiam Glazer, Lowell House,  Los Angeles.
 • 1996: “Nice Jewish Girls: Growing Up In America,” edited  by Marlene Adler Marks, Penguin, New York.
 • 1995: “Chosen Tales: Stories Told by Jewish Storytellers,” edited by Peninnah Schram, Jason Aronson Inc.: Northvale, NJ.
 • 1995: “Many Voices: True Tales From America’s Past,”edited by Mary Weaver, National Storytelling Press: Jonesborough, TN.
 • 1994: “Tales As Tools: The Power Of Story in the Classroom,” edited by Mary Weaver, National Storytelling Press: Jonesborough, TN.

AUDIO RECORDINGS
 • 1998: “Tales and Scales: Stories of Jewish Wisdom.” 
 • 2004: “Pass It On: A Journey Through the Jewish Holidays in Story and Song.”

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & ROSTERS
 • National Storytelling Association
 • Healing Arts Storytelling Group
 • Jewish Storytelling Coalition
 • New CAJE
 • Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Arts for All Teaching Artist
 • Children's Creative Project
 • Poets and Writers Directory

EDUCATION
 • 2008: California Arts Commission, Arts for All Professional Artist Training Program
 • 1987: Master of Arts, Communication, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
 • 1981: Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, Middle Eastern Studies, University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI