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Emerging Teller Award Program


Thank you for your interest in applying for the Emerging Teller (ET) Award. SC-CC is very excited to support the growth of emerging storytellers by pairing them with a storytelling mentor. One of our core values is to support mentorship opportunities between emerging and experienced storytellers across Canada each year. 


Emerging Tellers are chosen every year from within the region where the annual conference is held. The 2026 conference will be in Victoria, British Columbia, so we are inviting applications this year from Emerging Tellers in British Columbia. 


Though it is not required for you to apply, we encourage you to connect with a local storytelling organization, guild, or community, and ask them to sponsor your application.   


Successful applicants will work with an accomplished storyteller who will provide mentorship over three to four months. Your mentor will help prepare you for a performance of your story at the 2026 SC-CC Conference in Victoria, BC, June 3-7. You will receive free admission to the conference, a complimentary one-year membership to SC-CC, and SC-CC will provide your mentor with a $600 honorarium for supporting the development of your craft. This year, SC-CC is offering TWO Emerging Teller Awards. 


Basic Requirements for applying as an Emerging Teller: 

  • You are 18 years of age or older

  • You have already begun telling stories to an audience 

  • You have demonstrated talent and potential for development and growth

  • You have the beginning of a repertoire of stories   


Timeline for Application Process:   


PART 1  

Submitted by the Emerging Teller

Due November 21, 2025 


If your application is complete and meets the criteria for consideration, you will be contacted by December 5, 2025 and provided with a list of SC-CC storytelling mentors from which to choose, unless you already have a storytelling mentor or have connected with one from a local guild/organization/ community. You and your mentor will then complete Part 2 of the application. 


Complete Part 1 of the Application Form


PART 2

Submitted by the Emerging Teller Applicant and potential Mentor

Due January 15, 2026 


Once we have received Part 2, your full application will be shared with a selection committee for the final decision regarding the Award.  Both the Mentor and Emerging Teller applying will be notified of results by February 15, 2026.


Part 2 of the Application Form to follow shortly.


The Mentoring Program: 

  • Spans a period of 3-4 months prior to the Annual Conference in June (February - May 2026). The Mentor and Emerging Teller design a schedule whereby they meet online or in person at least 4 times prior to the Conference for rehearsal, feedback and discussion. 

  • Between mentorship sessions, the Emerging Teller is expected to practice on their own, continue to build their repertoire of stories to tell, and attend storytelling events on their own, to listen. 

  • The mentoring period culminates with the Emerging Teller performing a story of up to 10 minutes at the Annual SC-CC National Conference, either in person (preferred) or via a recording.

  • The Emerging Teller also commits to a minimum of three additional public storytelling performances within 12 months of receiving the Award. 

  • The first half of the $600 mentorship fee will be paid by SC-CC to the mentor at the start of the mentoring period, upon submission of an invoice.

  • The balance of the mentorship fee will be paid to the mentor (with an invoice submitted to SC-CC) after the mentorship period has concluded.  

  • The Emerging Teller will receive a free SC-CC national conference registration enabling them to attend all the regularly programmed workshops and free concerts. ** Options such as the master class, field trips, accommodation, or special ticketed events are an extra cost and are not covered by the award.  

  • The Emerging Teller will also receive a free one-year membership to SC-CC. 


Please contact the Project Officer for the Emerging Teller Award Program at emergingstoryteller@storytellers-conteurs.ca if you have any questions or difficulties with the application. (Your email will only be used for communication with you regarding your application for the Emerging Teller Award. It will not be shared with a third party for any reason.)


We recommend working on your application in a Word document in the event that you are logged out of your account while completing the form. Click here for a Word Document template with the application questions for Part 1.


When your application has been successfully submitted through our online system, you will receive a confirmation email. If you have not received the email, your application did not go through. Please email admin@storytellers-conteurs.ca to confirm. 


Complete Part 1 of the Application Form



Emerging Teller Application - Part 2


This form is to be completed ONLY by those whose Part 1 applications were accepted by the Committee.

Online Application Form

Name *
Email *
Thanks. Emerging Teller Application Part 2 This second stage application should only be completed if you have already submitted the first stage application.
Mentor Name and Contact Information:
Sponsoring Storytelling Guild/Organization (if applicable) and Contact Information for Representative:
PLEASE TELL US what excites you both about this mentorship process.
ATTACH a detailed outline of your mentoring plan and schedule over 3-4 months, including at least 4 mentoring sessions and practice time in preparation for the Emerging Teller’s performance at the SC-CC National Conference in June 2026 in Victoria, BC. Please include any plans for the 3 additional community performances.
ATTACH separate, high quality .jpg headshots of the Emerging Teller and of the Mentor.
ATTACH separate, short bios (250 words maximum each, please) of the Emerging Teller and the Mentor, including any professional website/ social media links.
Emerging Teller Applicant Agreement - Please add your initials after each statement.
Name
I am willing to plan and prepare a performance of a ten-minute story with my mentor, through a minimum of four in-person rehearsals/coaching sessions. If unable to meet in person, I commit to meeting online.
I commit to performing the story in person at the SC-CC Conference, June 3-7, 2026. If unable to attend in person, I commit to providing a pre-recorded performance of my story in front of a live audience (can be friends and family) to be shown at the conference
I am open to receiving, discussing/ reflecting on, engaging/ experimenting with, and integrating/ applying constructive feedback offered by my storytelling mentor.
I am willing to set aside time to practice my stories in between mentoring sessions, to refine my skills and further my growth
I am willing to attend mentoring sessions as scheduled, or to give ample notice to my Mentor if rescheduling is necessary.
I commit to open and clear communication with my mentor and to seek support from SC-CC staff should any issues arise that we cannot resolve ourselves.
I commit to performing 3 additional public performances during the membership year (e.g. Telling Tuesday, Canadian Storytelling Night, World Storytelling Day, the local group’s regular circles or ‘story swaps’, a library, a house concert, etc.).
Mentor Agreement - Please add your initials after each statement.
I am willing to coach the Emerging Teller to tell a specific, well-prepared ten-minute story in person at the SC-CC conference. If teller is unable to attend in person, I will guide them in providing a pre-recorded performance of their story in front of a live audience, to be shown at the conference.
I am willing to provide constructive feedback and coaching support during the mentoring period to support the Emerging Teller’s growth as an artist.
I am willing to answer questions and engage in discussions during coaching sessions.
I am willing to be available for the mentoring sessions as scheduled, or to give ample notice to the Emerging Teller if rescheduling is necessary.
I commit to assist in arranging at least 3 additional opportunities the Emerging Teller to perform for an audience during the membership year (e.g. Telling Tuesday, Canadian Storytelling Night, World Storytelling Day, the local group’s regular circles or ‘story swaps’, a library, a house concert, etc.).
I commit to open and clear communication with the Emerging Teller and to seek support from SC-CC staff should any issues arise that we cannot resolve ourselves.
The Mentor and the Emerging Teller Applicant Agreement. Please initial each statement.
We agree to send SC-CC at least two reports updating progress over the course of the mentoring process (February - May 2026). A short form will be provided for this.
We agree to inform our SC-CC contact in a timely manner if the mentoring program runs into challenges requiring accommodations or major changes.
We agree to send SC-CC a final report within one-month post-conference as a summary/ evaluation of the mentoring experience from both perspectives. (This summary may be shared as an SC-CC website article.)
Emerging Teller Application Signature and Date
Mentor Signature and Date



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