Imagining a New Horizon,
Reinventing Tomorrow
We live in a complex age—an era of social, economic, and civic challenges. Although concerned and dedicated individuals, organizations, and government agencies are addressing these challenges, the issues remain daunting. So, how can the International Storytelling Center help? How can we imagine—and bring into reality—a New Horizon, a new tomorrow?
Storytelling can’t directly feed the hungry, house the homeless, or cure the sick. Yet, we all have the capacity to tap into our stories, our narrative assets, and communicate more effectively.
A well-told story can communicate truth, concept, or idea with immeasurable power. ISC is dedicated to connecting this powerful tool with the voices of individuals, organizations, and communities across the world to help them achieve their goals.
Our vision is a better life, a better world, through the power of storytelling.
To achieve this worthy vision, ISC is advancing the power and possibilities of storytelling and providing people across the world with the knowledge, experiences, and tools to effectively tap into the contemporary applications of this longstanding tradition.
We are inspiring and empowering people worldwide to discover, craft, and share stories that:
- Enliven and enrich performance—as teller and listener
- Celebrate personal, community, and cultural heritage through the preservation of stories and story traditions
- Enhance health and wellness, education,and community services through the professional practice of storytelling.
During the coming months and years, ISC will expand our program offerings to provide the knowledge, experiences, and tools of storytelling to help people around the world tap into the power of this ancient tradition to pursue our passions and achieve our potentials—in our lives, our communities, and our cultures.
The International Storytelling Center is dedicated to inspiring and empowering people across the world to tell their stories, renew their storytelling traditions, and tap into the power of storytelling to build a better life and a better world.
The heart of our new work is an online information, communications, and learning network—set to be launched during early fall.
The International Storytelling Center is pursuing three program strategies to achieve our New Vision.
Advocacy
Through a global advocacy campaign, ISC is promoting the possibilities of storytelling—creating awareness and appreciation for storytelling, building credibility for this longstanding tradition, and expanding our audiences. As a result of these grassroots efforts, more and more individuals, organizations, and communities across the globe are discovering, crafting, and sharing their stories.
Learning
Through a global learning program, ISC will provide a series of innovative, educational opportunities to teach the power of storytelling. Through this program, ISC introduces the power of storytelling, serves as a connecting point for a community of learners, and provides a resource for learning the creative applications of storytelling. The learning program will include online courses, subscriptions to educational services, and a series of symposia and mini-conferences under the banner of the Horizon Global Forum—all fueled by research, study groups, and pilot projects.
Home
A worldwide beacon and a center of excellence for storytelling, the Center campus is located in Jonesborough—the small Tennessee town that gave birth to the world’s storytelling renaissance. Known affectionately as the storytelling capital of the world, Jonesborough and our campus are providing expanded, on-site opportunities to experience the power and potential of storytelling. Jonesborough-based activities now include the National Storytelling Festival and the Storytelling Live! Teller-in-Residence Series. In the future, a series of visitor experiences showcasing storytelling will also be added to ISC’s Center offerings for visitors.
In the coming months, we look forward to formally re-introducing our new online network and sharing more about our new vision with the online community. Old friends and first-time visitors alike will find updated resources and tools that reinforce ISC’s core mission—to advance the practice, performance, and preservation of storytelling.