This hybrid event will be held in person at Oxford University (24–25 May) and online, with a fully virtual day on 26 May.

It aims to bring together both scholars and creatives (screenwriters, performance storytellers, digital storytellers, authors, educators, practitioners, journalists, scholars, researchers, psychologists, visual artists, and other creatives) to explore the diverse types, functions, and significance of storytelling, to explore the multifaceted nature of storytelling—its archetypal structures, cultural significance, psychological depth, and its ongoing evolution across media and disciplines.

Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Patricia Leavy, internationally renowned scholar, novelist, and pioneer in arts-based research.

The conference will consider a broad range of questions including: What constitutes a story? Why do stories matter? How do narrative forms shape identity, culture, and human understanding? Through a transdisciplinary lens, we seek to examine the enduring relevance of mythology and archetypes alongside innovations in contemporary storytelling.

We welcome 15-minute presentations on topics such as (but not limited to):
• Archetypes in traditional and modern narratives
• Storytelling as therapeutic practice
• Narrative and image: ekphrasis, murals, and visual storytelling
• Digital and performance storytelling
• Storytelling in education and pedagogy
• Cross-genre narratives and prose poetry
• Archetypal themes in children’s culture and media
• Mythology in contemporary contexts
• The psychology of narrative processes
• Magical realism, surrealism, and symbolic storytelling

We also invite creatives to share and reflect on their original storytelling work.

Conference Fees:
• £180 (in-person participation)
• £100 (online participation)
(Eventbrite fees not included)
We also welcome non-presenting participants who wish to attend.

Find out more here

For any enquiries, please contact: conferences@labrc.co.uk

Extended deadline: 20 April 2025