Scots Go FEST

Following planning meetings at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and the path finder Gathering in Oslo in August 2008, the Federation for European Storytelling was formally established at the second Gathering in Lausanne in August 2009. I attended, representing the Scottish Storytelling Forum and Centre.

A key feature of Lausanne was the growth in participating nations. There were 25 represented in person and a further five participating though unable to attend. FEST is now genuinely pan-European.

There was creative excitement and a mood of mutual encouragement about since no-one, including the planning group, had fully realised the extent and diversity of the resurgence across Europe. There was inspiration in that and some hard headed networking, embracing festivals, national associations and projects in education, health and well-being, heritage, performance and community development.
The Scottish influence in all this was distinctive and recognised − no pushing required. As Director of the Scottish Storytelling Centre I gave the opening address on tradition, artistic diversity and ethos. George Macpherson reported from the ‘Healing Network’ and John Barrington from one of the two ‘Education Networks’. Cultural happenings around the conference core were another Scottish contribution. George also stayed on to feature in the first Lausanne Storytelling Festival.

Most significant perhaps was the agreement to formally establish FEST through an international ‘Memorandum of Understanding’, containing definitions of purpose and an organisational structure. This, as one might imagine, was the subject of a lengthy debate which I was asked to chair. Now I know what EU summits are like!

The end result was unanimous and provides a clear platform for development. On the basis of the Memorandum, a Steering Group was elected, while England and Spain were established as the Gathering venues for 2010 and 2011. It was also agreed to offer a wide range of Interest Group Networks, allowing each to find its appropriate support and form, reporting to the next Gathering.

The universal view amidst the 65 participants is that Lausanne was a decisive milestone in the world wide storytelling renaissance and from that view, despite being Scottish, I cannot dissent.

Donald Smith
Scottish Storytelling Centre Director

(The European Memorandum can be viewed here )