Anna Jarrett

The Travelling Storyteller

"Celebrating life and learning through creative arts & storytelling"

STORY NEWS

An occasional newsletter of storytelling events, reviews, profiles and thoughts

Issue 4

The Year in Brief

Wow, what a wonderful year for storytelling. So many new projects, new shows, new stories. It’s been moving so fast and I’m loving being in a totally creative space. There’s a strong demand for storytelling in communities and I’m enjoying adapting my work to whatever different communities may need. I’m moving deeper into my own understanding of how stories and storytelling strengthen families and communities. The work which is coming my way has a powerful depth to it and I’m learning so much everyday about the power of storytelling to create wellbeing, to raise our spirits, to bring us together to celebrate and to share our stories.

Highlights for 2008

There have been so many inspiring moments this year. Some of the highlights were:

• presenting a workshop on Connecting Communities Through Storytelling at the Family & Community Strengths Conference in Newcastle

• being invited as a feature teller at the Glistening Waters International Storytelling Festival NZ

• filming Part One of my storytelling training DVD at Moruya TAFE

• being selected as a finalist in the Spirit Of Woodford Awards 
  Woodford Folk Festival
  

Collaborations

I’d like to say a big thank you to all the artists and educators who I’ve collaborated with this year. It’s both enlightening and fun to work with new people and to find the connecting points in our creative work. Thankyou  Jill Johnson (Child Protection Week  Positive Parenting workshop), Harry Laing (Writers Roadshow project), Desiree Sheldrake (Harmony Day show) and Ann Lehmann (Once Upon A Song).

Tracey Needham, Anna Jarrett & Jill Johnson                                Anna Jarrett & Harry Laing Writers Roadshow
Child Protection Week

      Anna Jarrett & Desiree Sheldrake Harmony Day                    Anna Jarrett & Ann Lehmann Once upon A Song

Future Directions

2009 will take on a different rhythm as I’ll be studying my Diploma of Education (primary) full time, one year. Of course, I’ll do whatever storytelling work I can around the intense study & prac schedule. I’m looking forward to developing more new programs with curriculum connections, and to formally strengthening the educational side of my storytelling.

Thank you all for your shared passion for storytelling and your dedication to working with stories to build  a better world together.

See Issue 2 — Feb '08

See Issue 3 — Aug '08