Appalshop@40 Needs You

Although Appalshop's 40th birthday is not until October, Appalshop at 40 activities have been underway since Fall 2008:

• Appalshop screened a number of films and presented a panel on our history at the American Folklore Society Annual Meeting
• November brought the spectacular restaging celebration for Roadside's Betsy at Teatro Pregones in the Bronx
• In February Appalshop was featured in a workshop on cultural organizations at mid-age at the Folk Alliance International Conference in Memphis. Roadside's Dudley Cocke and Appalshop Director Art Menius also presented a program on the Voices from the Cultural Battlefront movement there
• A standing room only audience of 42 enjoyed the Appalshop at 40 seminar at the Appalachian Studies Conference at Shawnee State University on March 27. Art facilitated a panel consisting of Herb e, Mimi, Rich, Tom, Bill Turner, and Jack Wright
• Seedtime on the Cumberland in June will be the first of two annual festivals celebrating Appalshop's rich cultural traditions
• Appalshop has also been invited to create a unique Saturday night keynote program for the Oral History Association annual conference this October in Louisville.

The concept for Appalshop at 40 is partners and supporters celebrating Appalshop's birthday. The program will run through October 2010. It shall not end then, however. This will not be a mere series of birthday parties but a program with lasting impact in the form of enhanced relations with our institutional and individual partners and the creation of programs that will build on these relationships. During 2010 many of you will be able to enjoy events in partnership with important cultural and education institutions in the USA, such as Berea College, UNC-CH, and Appalachian State University. Stay tuned to Appalshop Notes and the Appalshop website for details.

As an Appalshop supporter you too can join the celebration by creating your own event - please contact Art Menius, Director, if you are interested in hosting an Appalshop 40th anniversary event in your community. Whether simple or elaborate, these provide a great way to have a lot of fun while raising money for Appalshop. One example would be hosting an Appalshop house party. Art would be pleased as punch to work with you in crafting such an event that could include a film screening and Art talking about Appalshop's work. On the other hand, we would work together on a larger event in a public forum or a group immersion in Whitesburg. The only limit is our own creativity.