(BELFAST) - Waterfall Arts presents Fireside Chats, an enthusiastic experiment meant to ignite conversations, boost empathy, and offer a platform for shared stories to help all of us set new intentions for our collective future. This monthly event is open for all to gather around warm fire pits for a night of storytelling.

Stories have the potential to break down barriers, sharpen our radical listening skills, empower community, and make us feel part of something larger than ourselves.

These monthly chats will include a visit from another local non-profit organization to share about their experience serving our community, and to provide us with a theme for the evening. Community partnerships give us a platform for collaboration and an interdependence that is necessary as Waldo County–and the rest of the state–continue to deal with the repercussions of the pandemic.

Amy Tingle, Program Director at Waterfall Arts, says the goal of this series “is to help people find comfort in each other as well as a renewed confidence in the power of sharing ourselves through story.”

The inaugural event will take place on the lawn at Waterfall Arts on Thursday, December 16, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm. Stephanie Holman, professional storyteller and children’s librarian from the Belfast Free Library, will be the first guest in the series, helping to kick off an evening of stories.

For those interested in joining the conversation, consider these themes: public library experiences, favorite books, literary moments, and meeting a favorite author. Bring your personal stories and help Waterfall Arts give our community a warm lift by sharing more of ourselves with each other.

Waterfall Arts will continue the series in the new year with storyteller Leah Trommer, Community Engagement Coordinator at Coastal Mountains Land Trust, slated for January 20th, with themes to be determined. 

Launched in 2000, Waterfall Arts is a community arts center that offers resources to arts enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. We welcome the public to engage in the arts through classes, exhibitions, art events, performances, public art projects, open studios (in clay, glass, print, and darkroom photography) and more. For more information, visitwaterfallarts.org or call 207-338-2222.