The 2009 edition of FEST-conference will be organised by Swisstales, the platform for storytellers in Switzerland. Storytellers and organisers from countries all over Europe will come together in Lausanne in August to exchange knowledge, build networks and start cooperations and projects across all borders. Lausanne represents a suitable link between all Swiss cultures as well as a symbolic middle point of Europe.

Contact
For questions to the organiser, write to Deidre Foster: Denne e-postadressen er beskyttet mot programmer som samler e-postadresser, du må slå på Javascript for å kunne se den.
Do you want the newsletter for F.E.S.T click here: www.swisstales.ch
You can join the F.E.S.T-group on Professional Storyteller: http://professionalstoryteller.ning.com/

For more information on F.E.S.T.: www.storytelling.eu

Background

Since the early eighties storytelling is having its renaissance all over Europe. Professional artists tour around the countries with performance storytelling. Clubs for enthusiasts are organizing local events. New applications for storytelling are being developed among educators, in health care, businesslife etc. International festivals are organized in many countries. Special educations for storytellers are being developed. Large storytelling projects for young people is part of the scene.
Through the years organizers and groups around Europe have cooperated on projects and exchanged artists and experiences across the borders. Since 2002 efforts have been made to create a base for full European exchange between storytellers. In August 2008 a conference was held in Oslo with sixty representatives of nineteen countries and regions. Discussions were held on how to cooperate on a larger scale, and how to organise. The following report mirrors the discussions and ideas of FEST.