We’re delighted to share that we will feature as a core partner for the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, hosted at the National Museum of Scotland.
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival celebrates the power of story to connect people, places and cultures across distance and time.
As part of this year’s programme, Wild Wings of Hope will host a three-day event at the National Museum of Scotland, bringing together papercraft, storytelling and ecological learning to explore the migratory journeys that link Scotland and Africa.
What’s more, we were delighted to see our event featured in a full-page spread in the festival programme, with a powerful photograph of storyteller Chief Gift Kofi Amu-Logotse (taken by the talented Luke Ripley).
It’s been a real moment of pride for the whole Wild Wings of Hope team.
Connecting Scotland and Africa
This October half-term, Wild Wings of Hope will launch across the National Museum’s Grand Gallery and World Cultures Gallery — a three-day celebration that brings together papercraft, storytelling, and conservation, connecting the ecologies and cultural heritage of Scotland and Africa.
At the heart of the project is storytelling — as a way of connecting people to migratory species, folklore, ecology, and the shared cultural heritage of Scotland and Africa.
Chief Gift Amu and Cara Silversmith will join voices across continents, leading participatory storytelling sessions that interweave migration tales, ecological knowledge and shared history — accompanied by drumming circles and papercut birds and butterflies used as dynamic props.
What We’ll Be Sharing
- Papercraft: Visitors of all ages will be invited to craft Barn Swallows, Swifts and Orange-tip butterflies from paper — adding their own markings and taking them home as beautifully made mementoes.
- Storytelling & Drumming: Master folklorist Chief Gift Amu-Logotse and Scottish storyteller Cara Silversmith will lead participatory storytelling sessions exploring the great migrations of birds, accompanied by drumming circles and papercut birds used as dynamic theatre-like props.
- Conservation in Action: RSPB Scotland and Butterfly Conservation will host conservation stations, sharing practical ways to support birds, insects and local habitats at home.
- Ecological Education: Museum staff — including collaborating entomologist Ash Whiffin — will offer opportunities to explore insect specimens and 3D-printed swift and swallow skeletons, sparking curiosity and close observation.
We look forward to sharing our stories, crafts and conversations with you this October half term.
Find full programme details on the Scottish International Storytelling Festival website.
Co-created butterflies and upcycled cabinets
Installing papercut butterflies inside historic museum drawers for an exhibition that brings together craft, community, and scientific collections.
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