We are a storytelling species. As early as 60,000 years ago, long before the written word—even before drawings on cave walls—we had stories. Back then, stories meant one thing. Survival. From myths, folklore, and tribal tales told around the campfire, we acquired the skills to find food and avoid danger. That’s also how we learned moral lessons and how to make sense of the natural world. Experiences, dilemmas, and hardships were all explained and shared through stories.

As interpreters, we have the opportunity to write a new chapter in our visitors’ own life stories. Through powerful storytelling you can turn a zoo, museum, or performance visit into a life-defining moment, a memorable experience that permanently shapes visitors’ lives, attitudes, and behaviors: an experience they’ll think about and tell others—as a story, of course—again and again. This interactive workshop will give you tools to enhance your storytelling abilities to help connect your guests to your organization.

Cost: 
Balboa Park Cultural Partnership Member Institutions: Free
Emerging Museum Professionals & Rising Arts Leaders: $10 + fees
Other Organizations: $25 + fees

Speaker:
Cindy Spiva has worked in interpretation and messaging for more than 20 years, spending the past 13 telling the stories of the San Diego Zoo. She is currently the Manager, Curriculum & Learning Experience for the Learning Institute and is developing learning modules on Interpretation and Storytelling.