Email |

International Storytelling Center set to reopen on Tuesday

Published May 3rd, 2009 | 0 Comments

After spending several months bookmarked and on the shelf, the International Storytelling Center will be reopened Tuesday to continue telling its tales.

The center’s education building, which was built in 2002, has been closed since early January due to renovations. A ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday to mark the reopening of the facility.

The ISC also is rededicating the revamped building in honor of Mary B. Martin.

ISC Director Jimmy Neil Smith said the repairs became necessary after the wooden parts of the building’s exterior began to suffer water damage.

“We realized that we had to make serious improvements to the exterior of the building and so we planned to replace the wood that was damaged with an artificial wood that was milled to be the same design as the original wood,” Smith said.

The improvements were made possible in large part by a $1 million donation from James C. Martin in honor of his wife, Mary.

“He gave us a pledge of $1 million to support the International Storytelling Center organization and our work,” Smith said. “The first portion of the commitment, which was $250,000, was directed toward the complete exterior repair and repainting of the center building.”

While the major damage to the building has been repaired, Smith said work will continue at the center for about another month while minor improvements and repairs are made to both the exterior and interior of the building.

In the future, Smith said the center plans to enhance visitors’ experiences through a number of exhibits, displays and an enhanced gift shop with an expanded merchandise line.

“Mr. Martin, in his total gift to us ... is making serious changes to our campus and in addition to repairing and renovating the exterior of the building he is also ... contributing to major enhancements to the interior of the building which we hope will occur next year,” Smith said.

The donation, Smith said, is helping to advance the storytelling program and the center’s efforts.

“All of these things have been things we have wanted to do for many months and years but have not had funds,” Smith said. “So with Mr. Martin’s contribution in honor of his wife we are able to make major improvements to our campus and our visitors’ experience that would not have happened without his support. We are grateful to him for supporting our vision and the realization of our vision.”

Prior to the reopening and rededication ceremony the center will kick off its 2009 Storytelling Live! series at 2 p.m. with a matinee performance from resident storyteller Syd Lieberman.

For the first time in the program’s seven-year history, Storytelling Live! has been expanded from 22 to 26 weeks.

“We added four weeks in May so now we offer six full months of live storytelling,” Smith said. “That is also very exciting to us because we were eager to fill out what we consider the full Jonesborough season from May through October.”

Each teller-in-residence performance will take place at the Krispy Kreme Storytelling Theatre.

Discuss This Story

Be the first to comment: Sign In or Create Profile .

Order Comments By:

To comment, you must register and verify your email address by telephone.

Comments are the sole responsibility of the registered user participating in online discussions. You agree not to post comments off topic, abusive, obscene, defamatory, vulgar, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned.

Click here to review our complete user agreement.

Times-News Online on Facebook

Featured Blogger

Vols TE -- and former Duck -- Rivera talks Oregon, famous sister and more

By John Moorehouse - 9-7-2010

KNOXVILLE-Mychal Rivera's sister won't be able to attend Saturday's game at Neyland Stadium to watch her brother and the rest of the Tennessee footbal...

Read Post | Comments (0)