A Center for Story

Pop Quiz: Do you know what these following lines are from?

"In the beginning..."
"It is a truth universally acknowledged..."
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...."
"All children, except one, grow up."

The first line, you should know. (For all my, non-Christian friends, it's from the Bible.) The second is from Pride and Prejudice, and the third one is from Star Wars (now in 3D). The last line is from your journal. (I'm just kidding, it is from Peter Pan.)

These famous lines are all common in the fact that each one is the beginning of a memorable Story, a story that has endeared itself to hearts of many. Although these stories, except one, probably haven't altered the course of your life, each one has effectively enriched our culture and references to each have woven themselves into the fabric of our society.

That is the power of Story.

If we stop for a moment, we'll recognize that art, in all its forms, is storytelling. Art (whether it be music, painting, dancing, or sculpture) is created for the purpose of preserving or capturing a certain emotion or event from the lifetime or imagination of its maker.  

Story is thus the foundation for culture.

That's what the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival is all about--preserving the tradition of Story. This homegrown program has a "Once upon a time..." of it's very own. It all started in 1989, when Karen Ashton and Friends of the Orem Public Library took the initiative to promote community involvement in the Orem Public Library and set their minds to raise funds for an additional children's wing to the library.

In 1990, the first storytelling festival was organized, and the rest is history.The Timpanogos Story Telling Festival and the Friends of The Orem Public Library eventually raised enough funds and made it possible for the an adjacent children's wing of the library be built.

The Timpanogos Story Telling Festival recently celebrated it's 20th year anniversary. This festival is endemic to Orem and annually draws 26,000 story-goers. It is a key part of our city's history and personality. Many volunteers and patrons gather each year to enjoy this singular event. This is something people can rally to; it's a community affair.

Orem City has since announced its plans to build another addition to the library--an auditorium and multi-use building that will become a Center for Story and will be used in conjunction with the Timpanogos Story Telling Festival. The building is designed to be situated adjacent to the adult wing and little theater of the current library.

The Center is designed to seat 290 on the main floor with a balcony that will seat another 95. It will also be furnished with meeting rooms, a gift shop area, and lobbies with enough open space for art displays. Interestingly, the Center will also be equipped with a recording room that will allow individuals to record their personal and family stories for generations to come.

The Center for Story's year round programming will feature:

• performance and workshops by the best regional and national storytellers;
• puppetry and dramatic presentations;
• lectures, literary readings, and readers' theater;
• music, dance, and film screenings;
• storycrafting and writers' workshops; and,
• fine art and touring exhibits.

As I researched this Center for Story, I discovered that there is some controversy concerning its construction. The controversy was not so much centered on the idea of the Center for Story but centered on the logistics of it. Is now the right time for the City to build a Center for Story? Is the area adjacent to the library the best place to build the Center? Will there be enough parking spaces to facilitate those who come to attend?

I pondered similar questions and had some doubts. However, one Monday, my family went to the library and came across this--A family event put on by the library where parents, children, and siblings came to enjoy an evening together. The little theater was packed with standing room only! It became clear to me, that a larger venue was needed. 

The Center for Story will cost 4.4 million dollars. The majority of this project will be paid for by private donations and grants. The remaining funds will be provided by the city through the CARE tax. (A voter-approved fund for the enhancement of cultural arts and recreation in our city.)

I personally have attended, and participated in, the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival--it was wonderful! I've attended the events that are put on in the little theater at the library, they were fantastic. The Center for Story will become a cultural engine that will drive appreciation for the arts and provide more meaningful and affordable entertainment and educational opportunity for the citizens of Orem.

I'm excited for the Center for Story. I think it will be a nice, complementary accent to the culture and tradition being fostered in our city.

http://www.centerforstory.org/ 

http://timpfest.org/