The Shire
What's your story? How are you going to tell it?
Our Mission
The Shire is a student directed cultural project that empowers youth in grades 6 through 12 to pursue their passion for storytelling while developing communication, collaboration and leadership skills. We do this through a stair step approach that strengthens community and expands networks among young artists and their mentors.
Apprenticeship program develops youth, inspires mentors
Students enter at the base of the stairs by taking a creative writing class, participating in a workshop, submitting a story to The Shire literary magazine, joining the audio drama team, producing a film, and/or becoming a member of a writer's club. After gaining writing skills, learning how to collaborate, understanding how to give and take constructive criticism, and expanding communication techniques, students in high school can move up to the next step as a paid apprentice in the classroom assisting college mentors who share their expertise. Upon graduating from high school, students can return to The Shire as college mentors. Those who pursue art as a career come back as professionals overseeing the creative cycle. Along the way, students inspire mentors, mentors inspire professional artists, and professional artists in turn share what they've learned. It becomes a cycle of mutual giving and receiving, of sharing inspiration and absorbing all the talent and good will that consistently travels up and down the steps of the stairs.
The world can be transformed by the stories we tell
Classes at The Shire inspire creativity and spark storytelling
Novel, film, comic, and audio play classes, suspense workshops and other creative endeavors build skills to tell stories.
A literary journal takes shape thanks to student leaders
Elysia, a leader of The Shire's Youth Advisors, is putting together a team of students from all over the east metro to create a literary journal called The Boom Site.
The Shire's audio drama team creates an original series
Students write the script, create the sound effects, compose the music, perform the roles and produce the final production of #HUSHpodcast.
Radio interviews are just one of those things
Creativity is one of the most powerful vehicles to health
Writers clubs support budding artists
Suspense workshop draws 25 students together
Public readings share original work and inspiration
Student artwork tells stories in a different way
Want to find out more, or learn how to be involved? We're only a text away: 651-351-0804
StoryArk Matters
As the umbrella organization for The Shire, Voices in the Valley and #HUSHpodcast, StoryArk nurtures storytelling in all of its diversity across the generations and through multiple media. By sharing our stories, we impact our selves, our community, our culture, our country and even our world.
StoryArk is a 501c(3) tax exempt organization.
Email: steph@theshireonline.com
Website: www.theshireonline.com
Location: Stillwater, MN, United States
Phone: 651-351-0804
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theshireonline/
Twitter: @theshireonline