Many hands,
numberless voices,
counted among the stars.
The Vancouver Society of Storytelling
is a multi-storied space.
History
In the 70s and 80s people such as Bill Richardson, Kit Pearson, Judi Walker and Sarah Ellis were among the librarians in Vancouver who told to children regularly. They eventually decided that they were also (of course !) interested in telling to adult audiences…and…well…. one thing led to another until finally in 1989, the Vancouver Society of Storytelling was born.
In its 20 years of existence the VSOS has undertaken many projects that reflect its goals of presenting diverse, accessible, high quality storytelling to the public.
Some highlights:
- Produced 19 successful international storytelling festivals;
- Delivered the Creek Forum in support of the St. George Rainway
- Brought the ELEMENTAL initiative to 5 Vancouver communities;
- Developed and Facilitated the Seeding Stories:Weaving Communities programme in partnership with MOSAIC;
- Developed and Facilitated the storybox initiative in partnership with urban ink;
- Produced, in conjunction with CBC Radio One and Britannia World Music, the 3 CD enhanced compilation How Music Came to the World and Other Stories. The CD is in distribution nationally, through Festival Distribution Inc.;
- Initiated and produced the Canadian Storytelling Directory;
- Programmed storytelling at the grand opening of Vancouver’s Public Library, central branch;
- Co-sponsored VOICES: an Oral History Symposium with the UBC Museum of Anthropology;
- Brought the Living Room (an informal story-swap environment) to numerous community events;
- Served as a storytelling resource locally, nationally, and internationally.
Vancouver Society of Storytelling (VSOS) at Slocan Field House 