Stories matter. They matter a lot. They can make us laugh and cry. They can educate us, persuade us and entertain us. They can bring us together and create shared experiences, like scattered pieces of cloth stitched together to craft a beautiful quilt.
Tennessee is home to a special place that is truly changing the world. It is creating jobs, driving year round tourism and making a major economic impact by harnessing the simple, yet transformative power of the spoken word.
The International Storytelling Center (ISC) brings national and international attention to Tennessee and to our state’s oldest town, Jonesborough, whose population swells from about 6,000 people to twice its size at the National Storytelling Festival. The festival draws thousands of visitors from all 50 U.S. states and several continents, becoming a truly unique event, celebrating storytelling and the spoken word.
“I hold a strong belief that through a well-told story we can communicate truth, concept, or ideas with immeasurable power,” Kiran Singh Sirah, President of the International Storytelling Center, said. “ISC is dedicated to connecting this powerful tool with the voices of individuals, organizations, and communities across the world. And, through story help them achieve their goals and contribute to building a better world for generations to come.”
