Piccolo events celebrate art of storytelling

Arguably the oldest art form, storytelling has been a prime mover of human cultures: a means of fashioning histories, establishing identity and making something understandable of the world.

The first installment of a planned annual event, the Stories for Life Festival, will practice what it celebrates. On Saturday, it kicks off the Children's Day Festival for Piccolo Spoleto with two highly varied programs. Featuring gifted storytellers, poets and authors, Tell Me A Story! will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at four venues: the Main Stage tent and Children's Tent on Marion Square, as well as at the Charleston Museum auditorium and the St. Matthews Lutheran Church auditorium.

Running concurrently at the main branch of the Charleston County Public Library downtown will be Author Inspirations: Stories for Life at the Library, a forum of Lowcountry authors sharing the genesis of their work — their "behind-the-scenes visions and inspirations" that sparked their stories.

Founded three years ago by Mike Ethridge, Stories for Life is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to teaching children the art of storytelling.

"Stories for Life goes into schools using a curriculum based on South Carolina language arts standards as a way to improve oral and written communications skills," says storyteller and festival director Hawk Hurst. "So there is a storytelling and a writing aspect to it. It's a fun way for kids to learn to read and write and get excited about it, complementing what teachers already are trying to accomplish. The festival is a way of getting the word out about the beauty of this program."

Of the five stages on Saturday, only one is devoted strictly to children, says Hurst. "The Main Stage on Marion Square will be geared for families and adults, while the programs at the library are entirely for adults."

Included are workshops and a special authors' event showcasing 25 regional, national and international writers and storytellers who have donated their time.

Preceding its Piccolo Spoleto events, Stories for Life today offers a series of related presentations — Hear We Grow! Stories for Life in the Schools and Showcase Tales: Stories for Life in the Community — involving an array of authors, poets and storytellers, each coordinated in cooperation with Creative Spark. The programs will be divided among 11 area locations.

All events are free. For a detailed schedule, go online at www.stories4life.org.

Reach Bill Thompson at bthompson@postandcourier.com or 937-5707.