Listen Up at PechaKucha’s Free Storytelling Events

Photography via Chris Donovan, Will Mejia and Kyle Mueller

On a monsoon-like evening, a group of Rhode Islanders frolic outside, dancing in the growing puddles, all with smiles. The thunder roars and the rain pounds harder, yet no one budges. It’s the first PechaKucha event after COVID-19.

Photography via Chris Donovan, Will Mejia and Kyle Mueller

That night, says Chris Donovan, was a moment that perfectly encapsulated the essence of PechaKucha.

“You could give me a million dollars, and I could not create that experience again. After that year of isolation, being with the community was beautiful,” Donovan says. “And when you think about it, that’s all we’re trying to do; create unforgettable moments with Providence’s community.”

PechaKucha (PK) is a free monthly storytelling event that rotates to different locations around Providence. The idea originated in Japan, and the word PechaKucha means “chit chat” in Japanese, representing all the small talk and connections that take place at the events. Presenters create twenty slides and present each slide for twenty seconds or less. The event has spread all over the world, but it’s Providence that has kept it going the longest behind Japan, thanks in large part to Chris Donovan, who has been the executive director for PechaKucha Providence since 2017. Donovan took over for past head organizers John Taraborelli and Stephanie Murphy. While handling much of the monthly event logistics himself, Donovan credits attendees of PK and the team behind him in making sure PK continues every month.

“There was a night when I was still new to the position. I had hit the wall and said, ‘this is going to be my last PechaKucha.’ That’s when so many people stepped up and said, ‘PK can’t go away, what do you need?’”

The community’s involvement is what keeps it going. What started as a forty-person event on a good night now consistently sells out, reaching capacity of more than 150. Past locations included Buttonwoods Brewery, Industrious Spirit Company and the Roger Williams Park Casino. Presenters have ranged from age seven to eighty years old, all sharing something unique with the audience. The secret sauce is informing attendees on topics they never knew they wanted to learn about, like previous presentations that covered how trees can be therapists and why “fat joy” is on the rise.

Photography via Chris Donovan, Will Mejia and Kyle Mueller

“PK is the space where you can connect with people outside of your circles and find those who have a similar energy and spirit. We want to be a platform for all the audiences that make up the community,” says Donovan.

Relying on community while simultaneously enhancing it, PechaKucha reminds us of what our society is lacking. At a time when parasocial relationships are replacing real ones, PK provides a chance to connect with your neighbors, all while discovering some of the hidden gems around Providence.

“What third spaces like PK create is an escape from everything that is commoditized and commercialized in our society,” says Donovan. “It exists to exist. The people who make it happen believe in it, and until that changes we’re not going anywhere.” pechakuchapvd.org