My neighbors and I rolled an old farm wagon into Courthouse Square and, around that wagon, told stories.  The Festival was modest, but something happened that sunny October day that has forever changed our culture, the tradition of storytelling, and this Tennessee town.

Recognized as the world’s first public event devoted exclusively to storytelling, the Festival ignited a renaissance of the storytelling tradition that has spread throughout America and the world and transformed Jonesborough into the Storytelling Capital of the World.

In 1975, two years after the first Festival, the institution that would one day become the International Storytelling Center was founded—propelling this growing cultural movement for almost 40 years.

In 2002, the Center campus—an iconic facility in downtown Jonesborough just a stone’s throw from the site of the first Festival—was opened, the first facility anywhere in the world devoted solely to the tradition of storytelling.

In part, through our efforts over four decades, storytelling is growing—not only in performance but as a tool for enriching lives, building more successful organizations, and producing stronger, more vibrant communities.

A well-told story can communicate truth, concept, or idea with immeasurable power. So, based on this belief, ISC is dedicated to connecting the powerful tool of storytelling with the voices of individuals, organizations, and communities across the world to help them achieve their goals.

Our vision is a better life, a better world, through the power of our stories.

To achieve this worthy vision, ISC is advocating for the power and possibilities of storytelling and providing people across the world with the knowledge, experiences, and tools to effectively tap into the contemporary applications of this longstanding tradition.

We are inspiring and empowering people around the globe to discover, craft, and share their stories to:

• Enliven and enrich  storytelling performance—as teller and listener

• Celebrate our personal, community, and cultural heritage through the preservation of our stories and story traditions

• Enhance health and wellness, education, and community services through the professional practice of storytelling.

On October 5-7 of 2012, ISC and the Jonesborough community will celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the National Storytelling Festival—the acclaimed event that launched the global storytelling renaissance and transformed Jonesborough, the oldest town in Tennessee, into the Storytelling Capital of the World.

But what will happen during the next 40 years?

Quite by accident, in 2010, I stumbled upon a book called Creative Tourism: A Global Conversation. The book, edited by Santa Fe resident and city councilor Rebecca Wurzburger, introduced me to the world of Creative Tourism. I was fascinated and intrigued, and a whole new perspective on cultural tourism opened up for me.

Within weeks, I sought Rebecca’s guidance and advice as a consultant—inviting her to come to Jonesborough to assess our needs and potentials and, based on her unique experiences and knowledge, paint a vision of the possibilities for Creative Tourism in our community.

Rebecca has been a major force in the development of Creative Tourism in Santa Fe.

Creative tourism, a type of cultural tourism, is the active participation of travelers in the culture of the host community by engaging in interactive workshops and informal learning. With Rebecca’s insights and know-how, we began to envision a plan to expand Jonesborough’s tourism experience through Creative Tourism.

Travelers have said, more and more, that they want to get closer to their vacation community and its people, to engage in interactive learning experiences that are true to the community’s culture, and to develop their personal creative potential.

So, as we approach Jonesborough’s tourism season this year, ISC’s staff will build on our storytelling acclaim by experimenting with various approaches to helping our visitors, through brief, but powerful, interactive workshops, to discover, craft, and share their personal and family stories.

No other community in America, perhaps the world, will be offering these storytelling activities—differentiating Tennessee’s oldest town from every other community across the globe.

  Jimmy Neil Smith

Founder and President Emeritus

International Storytelling Center

Jonesborough, Tennessee

http://www.storytellingcenter.net/

Dear Friends:

Here I am in Santiago de Compostela, a simply beautiful UNESCO Heritage site! Imagine the opportunity of interacting with over 200  diverse  contemporary artists from the Canary Islands,  Galicia, Catalania, Madrid, Berlin, Brazil, and the Netherlands! Simply amazing!

As the only American speaker at Maac-Mercado atlantico de creacion contemporanea, -I have been blessed to experience a provocative interchange among creatives at least 25 years younger than myself! I do believe that my presentation on Santa Fe’s creative tourism and  our cultural policies did indeed convince some of these young creatives that not all politicians are  evil and uncaring about the arts. Respect for government leaders is at an all time low in Spain, for sure- so that was interesting to deal with as the only public official on the program !  For details check the website http://www.maccatlantic.org/

I will return home Friday with a renewed commitment to international exchanges, the power of ¨creatives¨, as well as fine inexpensive cuisines and great wines! (As well as black blue jeans as formal dress)  Mostly I will treasure many new fascinating international colleagues who are actively engaged in diverse innovative art forms.

Cheers! Rebecca

Rebecca Wurzburger                                                                                                                                                                              ICTA Director rebeccawurzburger@gmail.com

Rebecca Wurzburger, Director

I am absolutely thrilled to announce the launching of International Creative Tourism Associates (ICTA). The genesis of this company was the UNESCO’s first International Creative Tourism Conference held in September 2008 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This first-of-a kind conference brought together delegates from 16 countries from around the world to engage in a global conversation about how to best leverage the tourism sector for community and economic development. Conceived, in large part by members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, this Conference resulted in a book entitled Creative Tourism, A Global Conversation: How to Provide Unique Experiences for Travelers Worldwide.

From editing essays from the world’s thought leaders who contributed to this book, it became apparent to me and my co-editors that a wide array of creative tourism resources exists worldwide. ICTA has been created to advise cities, states, provinces and countries on the application of Creative Tourism as an effective economic and community development tool. Specifically ICTA will consult with private and public sector tourism, community development and economic development organizations which are seeking innovative ways of promoting tourism in an increasingly competitive environment.

Associates who have initially joined me in this effort include:

Crispin Raymond (New Zealand)

Greg Richards (Spain)

Caroline Couret (Spain).

Updated resumes describing each Associate’s interest and particular expertise in Creative Tourism and Creative Industries will follow.

Thank You

Rebecca Wurzburger, Director