In 2005 Owen Sound hosted the provincial Community Arts Conference, to explore methods of cultural development that could be used effectively by communities. The tool that figured most prominently in the discussion was "community storytelling."

Community storytelling uses stories --- told by and-or to community audiences --- to explore and build community recognition, memory and sense of place. It can include all kinds of stories: personal and family stories, local history, local successes and failures, contemporary stories about current issues and events, characters or problems, traditional stories from cultural groups, stories of disadvantaged groups, folk tales and fairy talies; in fact, any story that says something relevant to the purpose.

Community storytelling is a form of community art, created by members of the community in some process of their own devising or participation. It is also community entertainment, because art that does not entertain will have little popular effect.

Normally in performing art the effect we seek primarily is enjoyment. In that lies the superb rightness of all good art. But we can intend other effects, and serve public purposes thereby. Memory and sense of place are not to be sneezed at, as public purposes, because forgetfulness and anomie can be profoundly negative.

For our Grey Brice Chautauquas we have designed a simple Community Storytelling event.These will work like traditional storytelling circles, with up to three rounds in the course of the evening:

Round 1 --- How I Came to Be Here, personal stories;

Round 2 --- How Is It Here?, stories of the community;

Round 3 --- Wagging the Tale at Random, whatever people want to tell.

Community Storytelling is about people wanting to participate, relaxing and enjoying the experience. It is not about having a fiercely focussed agenda.

For practical reasons we have linked community storytelling to the Grey-Bruce Chautauqua Rendezvous 2008. Details continue to emerge. If you are interested, please check this site from time to time, or get in touch.