Storytelling festival
Encyclopedia
A storytelling festival is often an annual event that features local, regional and/or nationally known oral storytellers. Each storyteller will have a scheduled amount of time(s) to share a story (or stories) with an audience. The featured storytellers are often professional performing artists, but semi-professional or amateur storytellers may also be included among the events.
A festival may be a single or multiple day event. Depending upon the venue, the festival schedule is organized around blocks of time for the storytellers to share their stories. The storytellers may rotate between smaller venues or the crowds may move from venue to venue. Tents or an amplitheater might be used for outdoor storytelling concerts/venues. Auditoriums, theaters, historic buildings, classrooms or gymnasiums might be common indoor venues. Often storytelling festivals will include an open mike
event referred to as "story swapping," where amateurs from the audience may share their own stories. Some festivals showcase the winners of storytelling contests such as the Young Storyteller of the Year
.
A tradition at many festivals (including the National Storytelling Festival
(USA)), paper tickets are substituted by "swatches" of patterned cloth that are pinned on and worn by festival participants. These swatches of cloth have a different/unique pattern each year and various colors may be used to distinguish the level of participation.
Today the town of Jonesborough, Tennessee self proclaims to be the storytelling capital.
A festival may be a single or multiple day event. Depending upon the venue, the festival schedule is organized around blocks of time for the storytellers to share their stories. The storytellers may rotate between smaller venues or the crowds may move from venue to venue. Tents or an amplitheater might be used for outdoor storytelling concerts/venues. Auditoriums, theaters, historic buildings, classrooms or gymnasiums might be common indoor venues. Often storytelling festivals will include an open mike
Open mike
An open mike or open mic is a live show where audience members may perform at the microphone. Usually, the performers sign up in advance for a time slot with the host or master of ceremonies. These events can be focused on poetry and the spoken word, music, comedy, and the open format of open...
event referred to as "story swapping," where amateurs from the audience may share their own stories. Some festivals showcase the winners of storytelling contests such as the Young Storyteller of the Year
Young Storyteller of the Year
Young Storyteller of the Year is an annual storytelling competition in the UK for young people aged between 15 and 25 which has been running since 2005. There are a range of awards including cash prizes and performance platforms at various storytelling festivals.The event raises the profile of...
.
A tradition at many festivals (including the National Storytelling Festival
National Storytelling Festival
The National Storytelling Festival is held the first full weekend of October in Jonesborough, Tennessee at the International Storytelling Center. The National Storytelling Festival was founded by Jimmy Neil Smith, a high school journalism teacher in 1973...
(USA)), paper tickets are substituted by "swatches" of patterned cloth that are pinned on and worn by festival participants. These swatches of cloth have a different/unique pattern each year and various colors may be used to distinguish the level of participation.
See also
- StorytellingStorytellingStorytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
- World Storytelling DayWorld Storytelling DayWorld Storytelling Day is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. It is celebrated every year on the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the first day of autumn equinox in the southern. On World Storytelling Day, as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many...
- international storytelling day with small festivals across the globe
Today the town of Jonesborough, Tennessee self proclaims to be the storytelling capital.
External links and references
- Storytelling festivals List of and links to storytelling festivals (USA and International)
- The National Storytelling Network (USAUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) - Audio interviews and articles on How to run a storytelling festival. (USAUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) - Storytellers of Canada/Conteurs du Canada
- East Tennessee State Reading/Storytelling Program Only university in US to offer an MA Reading/Storytelling program
- French storytelling day