Updates
Working with the Guild has been an eye-opening experience that has altered my perspective on the art of storytelling and what it means to share a story. This internship has allowed me to become a storyteller and perform to an audience for the first time. The experience made me feel confident and self-assured and allowed me to….
The Sydney International Storytelling Conference Cancelled
The decision was made back in March to postpone the 2020 Conference due to the Covid-19 virus. We had hoped that the world would return back to normal and that the conference would go ahead in June 2021. However, since March much has changed globally and we have been challenged and invited to re-imagine a process for a virtual program. In doing so, it was decided by the organising committee that we could not just transfer the conference program with multiple workshops, performances and poster sessions to a digital event.
A Brand New Look for a Brand New Decade
2020 caused the world to stop, reflect and experience new ways of living. 2020 propelled us into more localised lives while simultaneously flying open a world wide web of digital communications and international opportunities. We began experiencing the possibilities (and challenges) of breakfasting at home then zooming into a storytelling event in another country, hemisphere and time zone, and back in time for morning tea at our own dining table. Meeting storytellers in other lands without jet lag or exorbitant flight costs holds much promise. Or is it an illusionary magic mirror that evaporates the visceral pleasure of mirror neurons ignited through oral storytelling?
“As a Bachelor of Global Studies student majoring in Business at UTS, initially, I had little to no idea about the wondrous world of storytelling and what it entailed. My first-day meeting with the Storytelling team and the UTS interns was a delightful experience where we spent hours together in an induction session where we interns were welcomed with open arms on Zoom. This time that was spent together brainstorming and researching on our first day got us all incredibly excited about what the possibilities could be for reimagining the Storytelling conference for 2021……
Ah, the best laid schemes of mice and men and the Australian Storytelling Guild, NSW. In an alternate, covid free universe, we are gathered around supping on soup, basking in the glory of another successful Sydney International Storytelling Conference at our AGM. Instead we find ourselves, alone at home, on Zoom. Yet still we remain connected by our mutual love of story and the internet.
Australian Storytellers NSW have members from all over this great sunburnt country and, as we could not come together at our conference, we thought it would be good to get to know one another here, and find out how other storytellers are using story to enrich their lives and the lives of others.
It is with great delight we introduce you to Simona Galimberti.
“Once upon a time, there was a girl by candlelight. It was deep in the centre of the Australian desert. Ok, that’s a tad romantic, but the desert is vastly enchanting.
Alice Springs, Arrante Country, Central Australia, NT. As she was home on her own, only her and the flickering candlelight, she wrote a vision in a notebook; to showcase community art works, stories and written pieces that spoke from their voice, those who express from their own voice within.
The weather is cool but we have some storytelling to warm you up from the inside. Below we have listed what's on offer over the next few weeks and stay tuned for some exciting online storytelling webinars and courses.
Membership renewals went out last week to those who are due, so check your spam and promotions folders if you haven't seen it.
Blue Mountains Storytelling Circle Sunday 21st June 2pm
Feast Online Thursday 25th June
Tangerine Elephant, Central Coast Sunday 28th June 12pm
The Online Stone Gnome Story Slam Thursday 9th July 7.30pm
Australian Storytellers: Voices from Down Under
Storytellers NSW were invited by The National Storytelling Network USA, to host a program of storytelling performances for their Virtual Storytelling Conference: Connected. Christine Carlton did a brilliant job relaying and clarifying the information coming from U.S, organising the storytellers, and being our Mistress of Ceremonies.
This June long weekend should have been our Sydney International Storytelling Conference where we would have welcomed and shared stories with storytellers from all over Australia and the World. After much consideration we decided to postpone the Conference till 2021, and we are delighted that most of our presenters have already committed to attend.
Other conferences and festivals have gone ahead or are going ahead online. Storytellers Nsw has been invited to host an online event with Australian Storytellers by the U.S. National Storytelling Network, for their online Conference and Festival. Jo Henwood and the Fairy Tale Society have been busy organising their online Conference for the long weekend and you can catch Lilli Rodriguez-Pang's storytelling festival, Southern Skies Festival on Youtube.
We hope everyone is staying well in these challenging times. While we can't meet in person yet, there has been an explosion of storytelling online. Many of our members are now embracing Zoom, Facebook Live and Youtube to share their stories. It is a very different experience telling a story to a screen rather than a live audience, perhaps it is then that we truly realise just how integral the audience response is to the art of oral storytelling.
Until we can share stories eye to eye, mind to mind and heart to heart, here are links to various online storytelling events
