February 2026 Newsletter
To become a member of Storytelling Association (Singapore), please click on this link | |
|
SAS is having our 20th Annual General Meeting. We invite all SAS members.
Please check your email for the invitation and link to register. Registration is mandatory if you would like to attend.
Please note that voting rights are only for Professional Members (PMs) and Voting Associate Members (VAMs).
We invite you to participate in the 398.2 Festival 2026 which is happening earlier than last year. If you would like to tell a story at the festival please fill the form in the link below. Last date for submission of the online form is 21st January 2026.
We have an opportunity to partner with the National Library Board (NLB) to tell interactive stories for them once a month this year too. We have been doing these sessions for 5 years now. From the past experience, these sessions have been a good opportunity for storytellers to practice their stories in front of an audience, regardless of their level of experience. It helps to hone their skills together. These storytelling sessions will take place every month. We are looking for members to volunteer for the months in 2026.
SAS members may express their interest, availability and preferences by the deadline 15th Feb 2026. Please click HERE to fill a form if you are interested.
Events in Singapore & Around the World
Free Online Oral Storytelling Event
Weather Stories is a sharing of stories about events shaped by the forces that surround us every day—sun, wind, rain, heat, and storm.
Across cultures and generations, weather has been both companion and challenger: gentle rain that brings relief, blazing heat that tests endurance, floods that reshape communities, storms that arrive without warning, and perfect blue-sky days that linger in memory.
You may hear ancient folktales and myths that explain thunder and drought, historical moments when weather changed the course of events, and personal stories of resilience, loss, delight, and wonder. These are stories of disasters survived and joys discovered, of humans listening to the land, the clouds, and the seasons.
This is a free online event organised by the Australian Storytelling Guild (NSW) Come as a listener or teller. All welcome.
If you would like to tell a prepared story in 5-6 minutes, email Christine Carlton at storyaus@gmail.com to be put on the list to tell a short ‘Weather Story’. The stories are told, not read.
This is a free online event organised by the Australian Storytelling Guild (NSW) Come as a listener or teller. All welcome.
- Wednesday, 18th February 2026
- 4.20 – 7.00 pm Singapore time
Register on Humanitix to receive the Zoom link to attend the session
Thursday, 12th January 2026, 8:30 am Singapore time
OARS in the Water is a facilitated Zoom gathering that meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 pm Eastern Time. The Healing Story Alliance’s OARS in the Water offers a community listening space in which to share the experiences and stories that have emerged in turbulent times.
Format: A typical 90-minute meeting consists of a 20-minute, theme-based opening, followed by 20 minutes in breakout rooms, and then we reassemble for a whole group conversation
Time: 8:00 am – 9:30 am Singapore time
Registration is now open for the 2026 edition of The Fundamentals of Oral Storytelling, FEAST’s foundation course.
This 10-week online course will run from 4 March to 6 May 2026 and is designed for anyone who wants to tell stories more confidently and effectively, including teachers, librarians, parents, community workers and emerging performers.
The course is taught by Sheila Wee, Kiran Shah, Roger Jenkins, and you will receive a one-on-one coaching session with Jeeva Raghunath. Each of your teachers has more than 25 years of professional experience, and all four are Directors of the Federation of Asian Storytellers. They have trained teachers, librarians, docents, performers, community leaders and corporate teams across Asia and around the world.
- 4 March to 6 May 2026
- 5pm to 6.45pm Singapore time
- Ten weekly online sessions on Wednesdays
Early bird fees are available until 15 January 2026.
Read the full course info and register on the following link:
Sunday, 1st March 2026, 9:00 AM Singapore Time
Online on Zoom
Friday, February 13th, at 9:00 am Singapore time
Better Said Than Done presents “The Outer Limits: Stories That Stretch,” with emcee Alton Chung and storytellers Laura Deal, Bowen Lee, Liz Nichols, Ingrid Nixon, and Anne Shimojima.
$15 Suggested / $5 Minimum
Proceeds Split Between Producer and Storytellers
Tango between holding on and letting go
A kite, strung tight
A kite, so bright
A kite, so light
A kite, takes flight
A kite, delight!
A kite symbolizes connection, hope, and the balance between staying fettered and taking flight. It tells us that holding on and letting go are both equally important to navigate life.
Many Indians all over the world celebrated Pongal, a harvest festival, on the 15th of January. The day marks the transition of the Sun into Capricorn signaling the end of winter and the beginning of new, warmer months.
Little India in Singapore celebrated the harvest festival with a cattle display at Clive Street and workshops at the Indian Heritage Centre.
While in many parts of India it’s called Pongal or Makara Sankranthi, the festival is called by different names in various states of India and in many parts of Northern India it’s called Khichdi Parv or just Khichdi (kedgeree).
Khichdi is a popular one-pot dish that is prepared with newly harvested rice, lentils and vegetables. The dish is offered to the Sun God and then shared with the community. It is considered a day of gratitude, sharing, and community.
Another popular tradition during this time is kite flying. It symbolizes new beginnings, and the transition into spring.
In China, flying of kites is also part of spring celebrations. Kites are seen as an instrument for carrying away misfortune and sorrows. Some write their personal troubles on a kite and let it soar. Once high up the string is cut deliberately, allowing the kite to drift away, which symbolizes the taking away of worries and the releasing of negativity.
Our similarities say we have so much in common as humans, but sadly, we seem to be the most divided of animals.
“Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new love, a new friend, a new country.” ~Anais Nin
Bear’s Festive Adventure
It was time to go into hibernation; little bear was reluctantly dragged into his den by mamma bear. He wished to play a little longer with his friends, but mamma bear did not let him.
Little bear dreamt of next spring when he would be with his friends again and with those happy thoughts, he drifted off into dreamland.
In January, he woke up from his deep slumber and announced, “Hibernation has ended, mamma, I am going to play with my friends.” “Not yet,” said Mamma Bear, “sleep a little longer.”
Little Bear could wait no longer and said to Mamma Bear, “It’s Pongal, my friend the shrew will be waiting for me. He would have saved sugarcane, khichdi, sesame candy, and much more for me. I must go. Please mamma,” pleaded little bear. “Besides, my friend will have so many stories to share of the adventures he’s had while I was sleeping. I cannot wait to meet my friend after such a long time.” So saying, little Bear dashed out.
“And mamma, we will fly kites too.”
“Be careful, little one,” said Mamma Bear and rolled back to sleep. Mamma could surely do with a longer period of hibernation. And she was wise enough to know there was a time to tether her cub and a time to let go.
Little Bear bounded off and soon met up with his friend, Little Shrew.
After a sumptuous feast of khichdi, sugarcane and peanut brittle, they were ready for their adventure.
They went from house to house wishing everyone a happy Pongal!
Finally, it was playtime. Time to fly their kites! They strung the kite and ran from one end to the other and they were having a wonderful time when their kite got stuck on a tree. They tried to free their kite, but the string broke! They were sad!
Just then they heard a sound, “Cheep! Cheep!”
They looked up and saw a bird. The bird said, “Thank you! The kite will protect my babies from the harsh weather, and it will keep snakes from sneaking up too.”
Little Bear and Shrew felt happy. Their lost kite would provide some protection for the little birds.
It was a lovely end to the festivities of Pongal.
“To let go does not mean to let go of. To let go means to let be. When we let be with compassion, things come and go on their own” ~ Jack Kornfield
References
Kite Day by Will Hillenbrand