Making stories matter: using participatory new media storytelling and evaluation to serve marginalized and regional communities

In a digital age, the skills required to undertake a storytelling project have changed dramatically. For community groups, this shift can be new and exciting, but it can also create feelings of anxiety if there are any gaps in their collective skill set. Supporting vibrant regional arts and the cultural practices of creative writers, storytellers, cultural organisations and communities, so they can develop, present, deliver and distribute high quality narrative-driven cultural products, is an important challenge, as is embedding adequate evaluation processes that will ensure the best use of public funds in the process. The rise of community deposited and commissioned digital recordings in museums and libraries in recent years reflects an emphasis on publishing 'good stories' in forms that are accessible and creatively use narrative to 'speak' to diverse audiences. In Queensland, the State Library (SLQ) acquires and manages oral history and digital story collections and is increasingly interested in creative writing and transmedia storytelling initiatives that support Queensland communities—particularly marginalized and regional communities—to better connect to their unique histories. This chapter will detail and review current regional Queensland storytelling programs designed to engage and stimulate public audiences and make the best use of new technologies in order to connect and build communities