Program Catagory: Sacred Universe
Type: Workshop/Training
Date/Duration: 1-3 February 2013 (3 days)
Venue: Mahasarakham University (MSU), Thailand
Rationale/Description
This is the first of two workshops on the art of Story-telling planned as components of SEAMEO SPAFA’s project on “Stories from Southeast Asia’s Revealed”under the Centre’s 6th Five-Year Development Plan (2012-2016). The first workshop was scheduled for early 2013; however, upon being informed by Mahasarakham University that it would host Thailand’s 1st International Story-telling Festival in February 2013, the benefit of reaching a much wider audience by joining forces with Mahasarakham University has resulted in making this workshop a part of the said festival.
Background Information/Statement of the Problem
Objectives
Objectives
- Train teachers and students in the art of story-telling
- Record oral stories that are not found in print.
- Highlight the importance and significance of traditional stories through story-telling performances
Methods to Achieve Objectives
The event comprises the following planned activities to achieve the workshop objectives:
- 2 keynote addresses
- 11 master class workshops on various aspects of folktales and the art of story-tellingand more
- Two Story-telling Showcases
- Story sharing and swap
- One Story-telling Concertby traditional and international Story-tellers
- A Story-telling Contest of Budding Story-tellers
- A folktale-based picturebook contest
- One story-telling concert by international story-tellers and award winning story-tellers
Collaborators:
- The Pure Thai Project, Mahasarakham University’s International Affairs Division, Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty, Mahasarakham University
- The Research Institute of Northeastern Arts and Culture, Mahasarakham University, Thailand
- The Central University of Jharkhand, India
Target Group/Beneficiaries
At least 300 participants comprising teachers, students, story-tellers, and the general public. Participants will include at least 20 ASEAN youths with interest and commitment in maintaining and revitalizing folktales and the art of story-telling, 100 MSU students, 10 international story-tellers, 20 traditional story-tellers, 50 educators, and 100 school teachers and children, and interested persons.
Output
This workshop is the initial activity of SEAMEO SPAFA’s “Stories from Southeast Asia Revealed” programme, and thus will provide significant input for future activities.
Outcome
It is envisaged that the Art of Story-telling workshop will complement a series of activities on story-telling at the Festival event, and reinforce the significance of using stories as a teaching tool as well as highlight the traditional wisdom to be found within the stories. Previously unrecorded stories that are transmitted orally only will have been recorded for the benefit of future generations.
As the Festival is a major international event that will attract much attention from both the general public as well as the press, SEAMEO SPAFA’s visibility is significantly raised.