Monday, December 29, 2014

2014 in a nutshell and welcoming 2015


It’s been a big year for Storytelling Australia Victoria.

2014

World Storytelling Day: For the first time we celebrated World Storytelling Day. This was organized and hosted by Teena Hartnett and several of us are now keen to see it as an annual celebration. WSD brought us closer to our Dutch and Canadian cousins, as we rode their wave of enthusiasm. Thank you to Melanie Plag (Netherlands) for encouraging us to submit videos that were fun to make and enjoyed around the world. HERE  The 2015 theme is “Wishes”.

Stories by the Fire: Once again, we ran an open floor event at the Newport Folk Festival. We thank all those (you know who you are) who rocked up with cake, sausage rolls, ginger biscuits and stories. We have been hosting open storytelling for this Festival since 2009, an event inside an event where storytellers with all levels of interest and experience gather and share tales. Graciously hosted by Teena Hartnett.

Words on the Wind: Our key event, a series of six storytelling shows and a workshop, made possible by Melbourne City Council grants and in partnership with the Library at The Dock.  Curated by Anne E Stewart and assisted by Jackie Kerin, the project enabled storytellers to research and develop new material and present the results in a small theatre. The WoW workshop, facilitated by Clare Coburn, was the only one this year and served as a reminder of how valuable these learning opportunities are. We thank Anne who worked long hours on this project.

Here there and everywhere: Members and friends popped up at Festivals (Bendigo, The Village, Port Fairy, The National, Cygnet, Words in Winter, Williamstown), in schools, childcare centers, inside an inflatable fish, at conferences, in cafes, bars, libraries, parks, in streets and Town Halls … in Wonthaggi, Castlemaine, Trentham, Daylesford, Bacchus Marsh, Emerald and Eltham … this list goes on ...

Website: Building on the work of Anne E Stewart,  Kate Lawrence is continuing to create a welcoming space for storytellers of all kinds to connect. Our site is growing in response to the energy that you have sent our way. It’s a work in progress as resources and events are slowly being added. HERE

Facebook:  remains a preferred way to connect and maintain relationships. And this blog/newsletter hopefully fills in the space for folk who are not keen on Fb.

Thank you: SAV has worked to address the organisational housekeeping issues that go with incorporation and name change and I thank Teena Hartnett,  Ronda Gault, Louisa John-Krol, Suzanne Sandow, Cindy-Lee Harper, Gael Cresp, Jan “Yarn” Wositzsky”, Anne E Stewart and Kate Lawrence for their time, patience, guidance and support.

2015 PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Ideas in action: To feed your curiosity about the oral tradition
  • Workshop: Myth and Reality: the magic and realism of the ‘Mabinogion HERE
  • The Mahabharata Project  HERE
  • The Victorian Fairy Tale Ring HERE 

Ideas in development:
  • World Storytelling Day
  • Monthly Story Exchange
  • Workshops June and July (personal storytelling)

JOINING STORYTELLING AUSTRALIA VICTORIA
It’s now easy to join or renew your membership. Membership gives you a discount to SAV events and enables you to join the committee and play an active role in planning. You can also be listed on the website. HERE 

JOINING THE COMMITTEE
If you are a member and would like to join the committee we would welcome you. We meet monthly by teleconference and we are also exploring metropolitan and regional gatherings.  Enquiries: storytellingvic@live.com.au

As we celebrate the passing of 2014 and the beginning of a New Year, on behalf of Storytelling Australia Victoria, I wish you peace wherever you may be. 

Jackie K (president and blog editor)

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Fairy Tale News: Victorian Fairy Tale Ring and Australian Fairy Tale Society 2015 Conference: Call for Papers


  • The Victorian Fairy Tale Ring
  • The Australian Fairy Tale Society 2015 Conference Call for papers


The Victorian Fairy Tale Ring

The Australian Fairy Tale Society is sprouting rings in every state in the shape of Fairy Rings. Louisa John-Krol agreed to lead the Melbourne ring and to include regional and rural fairies. They can be found nesting with Storytelling Australia Victoria and will soon be added to the SAV website.

The Victorian Fairy Tale Ring now has a blog with news of discussions and events. Every couple of months these ethereals discuss (verbally or in writing) a fairy tale theme. You don’t need to be an expert or performer to turn up to a fairy ring. You’re also welcome to share ideas via cyberspace, handwritten letter, or dandelion swish. 

If you are interested in Fairy Tales you might also like the Monash Fairy Tale Salon

Find the Victorian Fairy Tale Ring  HERE 
Visit Louisa's website HERE 
Contact Louisa:  arielsflight@optushome.com.au

The Australian Fairy Tale Society 2015 Conference: Call for Papers

After the success of their inaugural conference in June 2014, the AFTS are  excited to bring you another day of fairy tale discussions.

Transformations: Spinning Straw into Green and Gold

When: Winter Solstice Sunday 21st June, 2015.
Where:   The Judith Wright Room at the NSW Writers’ Centre - Garry Owen House, Callan Park, Balmain Road, Rozelle

The call for papers in now officially open, and will close on January 30th. Information HERE 




Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Myth and Reality: WORKSHOP and STORY SHARE. Art Gallery of Ballarat Wednesday 14th January 2015


This is a day in two parts:
1. Workshop: Fees apply
2. Story Share: Free

1. WORKSHOP

Myth and Reality: the magic and realism of 'The Mabinogion'
 Christine Willison



WHEN: Wednesday 14th January 2015
40 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat

TIME: 10.00am to 1.00pm 
COST: $25 General Public $20 SAV and Art Gallery Members

Lunch break: 1.00 pm to 3.00pm and further discussion with Christine

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: Phone Gallery 5320 5858 (places are limited) or book on line HERE 

ENQUIRES: call 0417 347 395 or email: sheilaghkentish@hotmail.com


The Workshop
In this fun, informative, and practical workshop with noted UK storyteller Christine Willison you will explore some of the stories, devices and themes of The Mabinogion. Christine will use her own adaptations of three of the stories, showing how the ancient style and themes can inform contemporary storytelling and creative writing.

The Mabi what?
The Mabinogion is a collection of eleven of the very earliest Welsh stories; passed on in the ancient oral tradition from teller to listener, then first preserved in written form in the year 1350 in the White Book of Rhydderch. It was translated into English in the nineteenth century and named The Mabinogion, by Lady Charlotte Guest.

But I don’t speak Welsh!
Open to anyone - no Welsh language necessary although some will rub off. If you want to do some preparation, you could read Christine's book Pembrokeshire Folk Tales,  and The Mabinogion, a new translation by Sioned Davies. 



Workshop Leader Christine Willison
Christine is a friend of Storytelling Australia Victoria. She lives in Wales and visits her family in Victoria annually. 
For over 25 years, Christine has entertained, intrigued and inspired people of all ages and abilities with her large repertoire of traditional and contemporary stories. Whether in schools, performance spaces, libraries or museums, in stately homes in Britain or at festivals worldwide. Visit her website HERE


Christine is the current Chair of The Society for Storytelling(UK) 


2. STORY SHARE


Commencing at 3.00 pm, some of Storytelling Australia Victoria’s regional and metropolitan tellers will come together and share stories at locations around the Gallery.


FREE EVENT: Open to the public
Bookings NOT required

ENQUIRES: call 0417 347 395 or email: sheilaghkentish@hotmail.com

 
PRACTICALITIES
  • The art gallery is a short walk from the Ballarat Train Station
  • If you can’t make it to the Workshop, you are still welcome to join in the Story Share
  • Art Gallery of Ballarat admission is free


 * This Storytelling Australia Victoria event is hosted by the Art Gallery of Ballarat.