2015 Charleston Tells Storytelling Festival

The third annual Charleston Tells Storytelling Festival will take place March 13 – 14, 2015 in Wragg Square and the adjacent Second Presbyterian Church in downtown Charleston, SC. Sponsored by the Charleston County Public Library, the festival is an innovative event that promotes the art of storytelling in the Lowcountry, encourages the sharing of cultures, supports and builds community identity, and promotes literacy. SC Humanities supported this program with a Major Grant in September 2014.

CharlestonTellsLogo with dates

The two-day “Charleston Tells Storytelling Festival” will feature four internationally-recognized storytellers, regional storytellers, as well as other local talent and musicians. The four featured storytellers are: Charlotte Blake Alston, who breathes life into traditional and contemporary stories from African and African-American history; Michael Reno Harrell, an award-winning songwriter and storyteller from the southern Appalachian Mountains; Bil Lepp who is noted for his outrageously humorous tall-tales and witty stories; and Corrine Stavish, whose degrees in literature, theatre, and performing arts help her shape personal and public history into powerful narratives.

The “Charleston Tells Storytelling Festival” begins with the three of the featured storytellers performing in area schools on Friday, March 13. Michael Reno Harrell will lead a workshop on the theme “Your Family Stories Need to Be Told.” There will also be a concert on Friday evening featuring the storytellers; multiple concurrent sessions on Saturday, March 14; and a closing ghost story event on Saturday evening. The full schedule is available and tickets can be ordered on the website here:  http://www.ccpl.org/charlestontells or contact charlestontells@ccpl.org.

The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. SC Humanities programs and initiatives are balanced, reflecting sensitivity to the diversity of ideas, encourage open dialogue, demonstrate integrity, and are ethical in operations.

Image: Diane Ferlatte performs at the 2014 Charleston Tells Storytelling Festival; image courtesy of the Charleston County Public Library