I’ve mentioned storymapping before but am now seeing enough new material on the subject that a definition seems in order.
The blog Emerging Upstate Arts Professionals describes what storymapping, a project of The Center for Digital Storytelling, is:
Essentially, “storymapping” is a method of reclaiming the dialogue and
character of individuals and a community. The presenters use modern, readily available technologies, to create a map of stories in cities around the world. Usually these cities or town have a dramatic, traumatic, or interesting story to tell, stories that speak to a forgotten time or place, stories that have been embellished or changed over time, or stories that are happening at the moment. Individuals who participate are asked to tell a story, any story of a place — they are not interviewed. The stories are recorded and/or videotaped, edited and uploaded, and then the people (encouraged by signs placed in the locations of each of the stories) call a phone number and hear the story. The program is supplemented by a website with video of some of the individuals telling their stories at the locations they are talking about. The Center of Digital Storytelling has worked with organizations and individuals in 16 cities, all over the world.
As an example of a phone number you can call to hear a story, the blog offers 504-256-1116. “When prompted, choose and dial any number between 01-20.”
These 16 storymapping projects are listed here.
Here’s another blog post about a collaborative brainstorming session on future storymapping projects.