The Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation is teaming up with Rabbit Box for a showcase of stories on the Classic City’s historic preservation efforts and buildings. The foundation’s Executive Director Amy Kissane says preservation is about more than just the buildings.
“And sometimes it’s hard to get across the idea that the reason the bricks and mortar are important is because of the role they play in our lives, you know. And that’s where the storytelling comes in. So that’s what the theme is about tonight, is people telling stories about…you know I have a feeling it’s going to be kind of random and range from one extreme to the other," Kissane said. "From probably a good rehab story to, who knows, a ghost story. You know, these places matter in our lives and are important to us in our memories.”
The “If These Walls Could Talk” partnership with Rabbit Box is a way for the foundation to help celebrate its 50th anniversary.
“Rabbit Box is a, they are an organization that focuses on oral history. They do programs every month down at The Foundry. They choose a topic and then they put it out to the public and ask for volunteers to tell a story related to that topic," according to Kissane.
She says the event can help novices polish their skills.
"The great thing is, if you’re kind of interested in that or interested in storytelling, they have people to coach you and work with you. It’s a great way to have fun and tell a story, but also learn some skills and hone your skills as a storyteller.”
The show is 7 o’ clock Wednesday night at the Foundry. Doors open at 5 pm and the show ends around 9 pm.