40th Anniversary updates

Appalshop continues its two-year celebration of its 40th birthday, which occurred early in October 2009. The precise founding date of Appalshop cannot be determined, but records indicate that Bill and Josephine Richardson returned to Whitesburg on September 28, 1969 to begin establishing the Community Film Workshop here.

Appalshop at 40 focuses on supporting partner initiated events ranging from house parties created by individual supporters to academic conferences. This reflects the broad range of Appalshop's many individual and institutional supporters. We hope to touch as many people as possible during the course of the two year celebration, reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and getting Appalshop's work out in as many venues as possible.

Appalshop at 40 events began September 2008 with the Letcher County Film Festival during Whitesburg Day of the Mountain Heritage Festival. A month thereafter the American Folklore Society, meeting in Louisville, presented three screenings of Appalshop films that deal with cultural topics and a seminar exploring our work. In November of 2008 Appalshop at 40 moved to the South Bronx when longtime collaborators Roadside Theater and Teatro Pregones presented a restaging of their joint effort, "Betsy." Thanks to the efforts of a robust host committee chaired by Anna Richardson, proceeds from that gala presentation of "Betsy" benefited Appalshop.

During February 2009 the celebration moved to Memphis, where the Folk Alliance International Conference offered a panel on cultural organizations of a certain age facilitated by Appalshop Director Art Menius as well as a session about the "Voices from the Cultural Battlefront" effort in which Roadside Theater director Dudley Cocke has been involved for more than 20 years. Five weeks later in Portsmouth, Ohio the Appalachian Studies Conference included a standing room only audience for an oral history of Appalshop featuring Jack Wright, Herb E. Smith, Mimi Pickering, Rich Kirby, and Dr. Bill Turner.

June 2009 brought Appalshop at 40 back to Whitesburg for Appalshop's Seedtime on the Cumberland festival. August found Appalshop at 40 intertwined with Senator Kennedy's funeral in Boston during the NAMAC Conference. The conference, which was held in Whitesburg back in 1984, included an opening reception at the MIT Museum in Cambridge that celebrated Appalshop's forty years.

September saw multiple Appalshop at 40 events happen including a screening of Appalshop music films during Whitesburg Day. Berea College's Appalachian Center began a series of monthly screenings of both Appalshop and AMI Films that will run through April 2010. Meanwhile, Appalachian State University in Boone, NC held the first of several Appalshop at 40 events crafted by Tom Hansell. Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC brought down filmmakers for screenings as well.

On October 17, 2009 Appalshop had the great honor to be the featured Saturday night program for the Oral History Association Annual Meeting in Louisville. Appalshop artists offered a fast-paced, multimedia exploration of how Appalshop has used oral history resources in its work. A week earlier, Appalshop at 40 returned to Whitesburg for String Band Day presented by the Alltech Fortnight Festival. Some 200 people enjoyed the workshops, concerts, and dance at Appalshop.

The months ahead promise a wealth of Appalshop at 40 events, including some continuing activities mentioned above and new ones under development. When the National Performance Network meets this month in Knoxville, a bus junket to Appalshop will bring several attendees to Appalshop. February will bring screeings of Appalshop films at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) on February 19 and 20 and another splash at the Folk Alliance International Conference.

March and April promises events at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, including an humanities symposium focusing on our work and its meaning. Check appalshop.org/40 to keep up with Appalshop at 40 events as they get scheduled.

Plus, we can take a direct, active, personal role in celebrating Appalshop at 40. You can mobilize support for our work by organizing an Appalshop at 40 event in your community. It can be as simple or elaborate as you desire, but regardless of scale, you will be making a difference for Appalshop, Appalachia, and rural America. Please contact Appalshop Director Art Menius at art@appalshop.org or 606-633-0108.