Project Cassandra

Creative Europe – Cassandra. Ongoing 2024-2025.
A project for young storytellers representing five international storytelling festivals in Europe. The aim is to enhance the capacity of both storytellers and storytelling organizations to work internationally, reach new audiences, and highlight the role of culture in society.

The project aims to support the Young Storytellers aged 18 – 30 to become ‘socially engaged performers’ ready for international stages. Five European countries will be part of the project: Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden and Norway.

The project will also help international storytelling festivals reach new audiences, champion art for social good and build platforms for the next generation of tellers. Based on the techniques and approaches used in The Cassandra Project, a public training resource will be created for anyone who wishes to expand and support the impact of youth storytelling.

The Cassandra Project secured funding through Creative Europe with the Federation for European Storytelling (FEST) as the leading partner.

Socially engaged storytelling is telling stories that matter personally on topics that matter globally; it’s telling stories that address and promote awareness of social issues and encourage conversation and positive change. It goes beyond entertainment, aiming to inspire action and create a more inclusive and just society.

Click here for more information about the project Cassandra

This project is sponsored by the Creative Europe programme with FEST as lead partner. Other partners include:

– Fortellerfestivalen (Norway)
– Storytelling Network of Kronoberg (Sweden)
– Stowarzyszenie “Grupa Studnia O.” (Poland)
– Storytelling Centre Amsterdam (Netherlands)
– Landcommanderij Alden Biesen (Belgium)

Which young people participate in the project from Storytelling Network of Kronoberg (Berättarnätet Kronoberg) ?
– Sarah Andersson, who previously participated in the Sagobygden’s Linnaeus University course Oral Storytelling in Educational Practice and was part of the Erasmus+ project One Voice, Many Stories, will create a family performance about domestic violence. She has interviewed experts from BRIS and others who work with children in vulnerable environments, and has crafted a story about a frog living under difficult conditions.

– Meja Olsson Rodriguez, Sagobygden’s own storytelling veteran, has studied oral storytelling at the cultural school for several years and participated in countless projects and performances. Her performance focuses on generational stories of immigration and lost histories, inspired by her own family’s stories. Meja has also studied in the Sagobygden’s Linnaeus University course Oral Storytelling in Educational Practice

– Meja Johansson, new to the world of storytelling but with extensive experience in theater, art, and music from Lokal 16 and other contexts, will create a performance about a woman’s search for meaning and God. She has interviewed people who found a religion they didn’t grow up with, and their journey has formed the foundation of her story.

– Jakob Elofsson,is a storytelling mentor and advisory project manager for the three young people.

The Timeline for Cassandra
– 7 March 2024 Digital kick-off meeting
– 17-20 April 2024 Four day course including masterclasses with expert storytellers, during the International Storytelling Festival in Alden Biesen (BE)
– May-October 2024 Research and development of storytelling performances in dialogue with relevant community groups, including three local try-out performances. The participants will be supported in this process by Fortellersentrum and storyteller and artistic director Lina Teir.
– 1-5 November 2024 International performance laboratory and performances as part of the Amsterdam Storytelling Festival (NL). Click on sentence to read more about the festival in Amsterdam.
– 12-15 June 2025 The tree young storytellers will perform at Sagobygdens Musik- & Berättarfestival in Ljungby, Sweden.
– June 2025 Showcase at the Federation for European Storytelling conference in Rome (IT)

Why Storytelling? What is unique about Storytelling?
Storytelling is an ancient art, the primeval art, the basis of all communication, imagination and creativity.
Click here for more background on storytelling

Please contact us if you want more information:
kontakt@sagobygden.se