Carnivalized storytelling: A workshop method for intergenerational creativity

This paper introduces an intergenerational workshop method that intertwines poetic inquiry with storytelling and visual art. Drawing on findings from community workshops held in the Amami Islands, Japan in spring 2024, we bring attention to the value and place of intergenerational creativity within community heritage work. We suggest that humour alongside collaborative creative practice can lead to the reinterpretation of culture and age hierarchies and enable spaces for the reimagining of heritage and cultural norms. This brief ‘on-the-horizon’ paper outlines a workshop process relevant to community heritage work and contributes some lessons learned on creating meaningful intergenerational dialogue within community education settings.