NSN is proud to annually recognize individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to storytelling.

Since their inception in 1995, the ORACLE Awards have been presented by the National Storytelling Network to those who have excelled in their art, or made significant contributions to storytelling, NSN or its members.

If you would like to nominate someone for an ORACLE award, please download and complete the nomination form on the NSN website.

Submission deadline is March 15, 2018

“The Annotated African American Folktales,” is a collaboration between Harvard scholars Henry Louis “Skip” Gates Jr. and Maria Tatar. Published by the Norton imprint Liveright in November, the book was recently honored with an NAACP Image Award for outstanding literary achievement.

The authors were interviewed together, discussing their collaboration as well as the folktales. Tatar said, “These stories show how connected we all are. I can remember one day looking at folk tales collected in the 19th century by African missionaries and anthropologists. Suddenly I recognized motifs and plot features from “The Juniper Tree,” a story considered European at its core. The Grimms have a version of that story in dialect, and they saw it as a quintessentially German tale. But here was “The Juniper Tree,” as part of an oral storytelling culture in Africa. What we think of as European stories are not so European after all.”

Did you know as part of the NSN Member Benefits we offer our members access to the most comprehensive Folklore and Folk life database? The Greenwood’s World Folklore and Folklife Resource & Database Guide provides access to subject matter that permeates the everyday lives of people around the world. Learn about the rich tradition of holidays, festivals, language, stories and fairy tales, proverbs, food ways, and folk remedies that define our society and our place within it. Updated every month, World Folklore and Folklife provides an exciting and accessible way to explore this vast and growing treasury of knowledge through printed and visual materials.

This resource can be accessed thru the Members Only login by a link in the right-hand navigation menu called "ABC-Clio/Greenwood Database"

Congratulations to Noa Baum for being invited to be part of TEDx Wilmington Salon in December 2017! Noa's TEDx talk, titled "Beyond Labels: Bridging Differences Through Storytelling," is a subject that couldn't be more relevant to society today.

Born and raised in Jerusalem, Noa Baum is an award-winning storyteller, author and public speaker presenting internationally with diverse audiences ranging from the World Bank, the US Defense Department and prestigious universities, to congregations, inner city schools and detention centers.

February 10 (Pacific) - Storytelling with Beatrice Bowles and Laura Simm

February 10 (Southeast) - Skyway Mall Story Hour with Ross Tarr

February 10 (Mid-Atlantic) - Trolls, Tricksters, and Chaneques - Regina Ress and Valentina Ortiz at Scandinavia House, NYC

February 11 (Mid-Atlantic) - Storytelling at the Provincetown Playhouse NY: The Heart of the Matter

February 12 (North Central) - As I Recall Storytelling Guild: Hancock County Public Library

February 13 (Northeast) - Valentine's Day Featured at Story Space

February 14 (Southeast) - Explore the Landscapes of Story & Telling in 6 Sessions by Connie Regan-Blake

February 14 (Online/General) - Silk and Honey: Enchanting Stories of Love and Wealth with YeYe Luisah Teish

February 14 (North Central) - Life of Yes Storytelling Class by Mac & Cheese Productions

February 16 (Mid-Atlantic) - Love Stories: Adapted and Performed by Denise McCormack

February 17 (Southeast) - Skyway Mall Story Hour with Ross Tarr

February 17 (North Central) - High Five, Daddy! (Mis)Adventures in Family Camping and Other Stories told by Antonio Sacre

February 17 (North Central) - The Leprecano told by Antonio Sacre