Through the joint initiative of Nancy Mellon, Storyteller and Psychotherapist from USA and Inger Lise Oelrich, Storyteller and Theatre Director from Sweden, a group of leading pioneers from USA, UK, Scandinavia and Europe have come together to create the first international meeting in Sweden next summer 2005: International Symposium on Storytelling as a Healing Art. The cultural centre in Järna, run by Kulturforum 45km south of Stockholm, with its beautiful buildings and gardens, will host this first meeting of different disciplines, which all have one thing in common: that they use Storytelling as a working tool and method of development.

Contributors

Seventeen pioneers working in the field of Storytelling as a Healing Art from 10 different countries will come together to hold workshops and share their experience with a larger group of participants:

Besides workshops, presentations and performances, there will be daily practice sessions with storytelling, including three groups with the theme "Creative Speech" led by Hélène Blomqvist (Sweden), Sigrid Ogland (Sweden) and Yvonne Dunderfelt (Finland).

Allison Cox has taken an initiative to publish a book, in conjunction with the symposium, gathering the knowledge, experience and exchange that will be present there for distribution to a wider audience. A double publication is being worked on with one in english and one in swedish. More information to follow.

Mission of The Symposium

• To create a meeting place for Storytellers and others from around the world to exchange and develop experiences, knowledge and new areas of work using Storytelling as a Healing Art in all walks of life.
• To explore how stories and oral narrative create an environment that promotes personal and social health and to inspire new methods of training in this area.
• To make this knowledge accessible to others and to create a forum for networking, discussion and learning new skills.
• To celebrate the Storyteller´s craft as a unique contribution to a world in upheaval, crisis and transformation and to support individuals who carry this impulse.
• To spark off a new understanding of Storytelling as a Healing Art in Scandinavia and on outwards.

Conference language: English.

Costs

The costs for this meeting are being carried by a combination of participants´ fees and gifts from supporters, funds, institutions, organisations. We have intentionally kept the fees low: 3000kr (swedish crowns)/395 US dollars for private persons and 5000kr/655 US dollars for institutions sending employees. This fee covers 6 days of intensive activity including presentations of work going on around the world, two workshops a day and evening performances. Participants will live on a beautiful campus with affordable room and board costs.

For more information, see our complete programme at: www.healingstory.com