Circles of Joy

Online workshops to share stories of joy

The Department of Illumination will be spreading some light of a different kind in an upcoming series of online workshops where participants are encouraged to tell stories of joy. In collaboration with Toronto-based Kick Start Arts, the Department of Illumination (DoI) will be collecting personal stories of joy, which will then be turned into a collection of artworks to be displayed or performed at the Festival of Joy to be held at Macaulay Heritage Park on May 14, 2022. “It’s been very challenging for all of us to find moments of joy during the pandemic. We have to be thoughtful about harnessing those memories from the past that can kindle within ourselves the inspiration and hope that we will once again celebrate those joyful moments in life during a period of time that’s been really challenging,” said Krista Dalby, DoI Artistic Director. There are three remaining workshops scheduled, each comprising of four one-hour sessions on Zoom. Anyone is welcome to register for these sessions, and Dalby said the format was chosen to allow the participants a safe space to create bonds and develop a sense of trust. The facilitators will guide the participants through a series of prompts to share stories that have joyful elements in them. “It’s just looking to your own life and reflecting on your own experiences and those things that bring you joy, and just talking about them,” said Dalby. “Stories beget stories, and as you start listening to people telling stories about their lives, it’s really like a brainstorming session. These workshops are not only to tell stories, but for active listening and responding.”

Department of Illumination artistic director Krista Dalby will be the facilitator for a series of online workshops where participants will share stories of joy.

After sharing their stories online, participants will be asked to choose one of their stories that resonated the most with the others, and then expand on it a little more thoughtfully. These stories will be recorded and placed on the Kick Start Arts website. The second phase of the project will then begin. Artists from Toronto and Prince Edward County will be invited to choose one of those stories and create a work of art in response. “This could be a song, a dance, a painting, a work of theatre; it could be anything. This will be an exchange between the rural and urban arts community,” said Dalby.

These works will then be presented in the third phase of the project, a free one-day Festival Joy at the Macaulay Heritage Park. Dalby says that storytelling is a way for people to connect on a deeply personal level. “Personal storytelling is very different from fictional storytelling. I think it really honours our own experiences and celebrates who we are, and in terms of hearing other people’s stories, it’s really an ancient human exercise in developing relationships, building community and developing empathy. It’s a way of sharing who we are with other people. Nobody can tell a story about your life the way you can. It’s an innately personal thing to look in someone’s eyes as they’re telling you something about their life. It’s a really deep connection with people when you are sharing stories,” she said.

The workshops will run from December 1 to 13, and are intended to be a catalyst for sharing joyful stories during a time where many feel isolated and disconnected. The sessions are interactive and relaxed, with the facilitators guiding the participants towards making connections and discovering the joy that resides within by sharing uplifting stories. “No prior experience is required. We all have stories to tell,” said Dalby. Registration is available to County residents age 15 and older, on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, please visit kickstartarts.com. The Department of Illumination is a not-for-profit arts organization, with a mission of bringing joy and creativity to the people of Prince Edward County. For more information, please visit deptofillumination.org.