Initiatives
As our changing world constantly presents new ways to craft and share stories, as an organization, we’re excited by these possibilities. The mission of the International Storytelling Center has always been to enrich lives through story, through arts and the oral tradition of storytelling. Our new vision, A Story in Progress was born of a strategic planning session with our board, but it’s been more than 40 years in the making.
It’s time to expand our programmatic reach, as we focus on our key strategic steps to Innovate, Engage, Grow, Connect, Educate, and Communicate. We invite you to explore our initiatives and to join us as we build a better world through the power of storytelling

Learning Library
Through a global learning program, ISC will provide a series of innovative, educational opportunities to teach the power of storytelling. Through this program, ISC introduces the power of storytelling, serves as a connecting point for a community of learners, and provides a resource for learning the creative applications of storytelling.

Freedom Stories
Freedom Stories: Unearthing the Black Heritage of Appalachia is an ongoing series that marries performance and discussion, connecting prominent Black storytellers, humanities scholars, and community leaders with the public to trace this rich history and highlight the role that face-to-face storytelling has played in both African and Appalachian experience—from the first African arrivals in these mountains, to the shaping of a distinct culture, to the ongoing struggles for freedom and equality. This project is funded by the National Endowment of the Humanities.
Get Involved
Storytelling Live! 2018 is supported by Premier Sponsor, Ballad Health. We are also supported by several other corporate, local business, media and national foundation sponsors, and we receive donations from private citizens know and the Friends of Storytelling Live! Celebrate the Teller In Residence program and support The International Storytelling Center by finding out how you can participate in the program.
