HEADING TO JONESBOROUGH TN

As Storyteller643 who curates this blog, I missed the annual Storytellers of Canada conference this summer in Ottawa. By all reports it was a wonderful event of telling, workshops and meeting up with old and new friends, all of whom share a passion for the spoken word in all its various genres.

Mark it on your calendar for 2013: July 4 to 7 in Ottawa. As the event approaches, check out the Storytellers of Canada website for more information. Here's a suggestion. Build your summer vacation around the event as Ottawa itself is a major Canadian tourist destination (and our national capital). Lots to see, do, eat and explore.

But at the last minute, I decided to head out on our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend (October 5-7), to the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. This year is their 40th anniversary so the many planned events will be well worth the effort of getting there and participating in their celebrations. The NSF is to American storytelling what The Grand Old Opry in Nashville is to country music. Put the Festival on your storytelling Bucket List for sure!

Once I am back from Jonesborough, I will put up a post or two about my Festival experiences and some of the personalities, trends and styles I saw performing there. This year's confirmed event program should be up on their site by September 23rd so even if you are not able to go this year, check it out. I made my plans too late this year so finding accommodation in or near Jonesborough is almost impossible, but I had some luck finding a hotel room about 45 minutes away from the center of the storytelling action.

Remember to Learn, Listen and Tell in your community.

September 14, 2012

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE PETERBOROUGH STORYTELLERS

In the fall of 1989, after taking two Oral Narrative University courses, Rita Grimaldi was inspired to request space in Trent University‘s Sadlier House for a monthly storytelling gathering. The group met under the name of The Peterborough Storytelling Guild. In 1992, Kate Jarrett joined Rita as a founding organizer of the group. Between 1992 and 2008, monthly meetings continued at various locations around the city that offered space to community groups. The number of participants ranges from 8 to 10 people.

Public storytelling performances by the Peterborough Storytellers took place at the Peterborough Folk Festival between 1992 and 1999 and individual members also performed at public venues like First Night, the Ecology Park and the Peterborough Museum.

In 2008, the Peterborough Storytellers (the word ‘Guild’ was dropped from the name) began to meet in the auditorium of the Peterborough Library. This fantastic support by the library allowed the growth of a larger audience (between 14 and 30 people) and range of tellers. In 2009, an educational segment was added to the beginning of each meeting. This allowed the Peterborough Storytellers to support their three part aim of - Listen, Learn and Tell.

A small group of active tellers directs the planning of activities and continued growth of Peterborough Storytellers. In 2012, they are: Rita Grimaldi, Betty Bennett, Angelica Ottewill, Hermione Revision, Diana Primavesi and Don Herald.

Author: R. Grimaldi

August, 2012