Appalshop in DC (again!)

On January 30, I was honored to represent Appalshop at the “Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities"event, hosted by the National Endowment for the Arts and the White House Domestic Policy Council. This first-of-its-kind convening highlighted the transformative power of arts in community development. Our participation in this important conversation exemplified our commitment to arts-driven community transformation. The summit showcased initiatives aiming to integrate arts into societal healing and infrastructure, emphasizing the arts' vital role in fostering community health, democracy, and equity.

The event assembled a diverse group of influential speakers—including government officials, artists, and community leaders—to address the critical role of arts in society. On behalf of Appalshop, I participated in the “Bridging: Arts and Physical Infrastructure” panel and shared insights on the funding disparities between rural and urban communities, emphasizing the need for equitable support to unlock the full potential of our democracy. This conversation highlighted the importance of fostering a balanced distribution of resources to ensure all communities can thrive through art. 

If you were unable to watch the live stream of the summit or would like to rewatch certain portions, the archival video can be viewed here.

At Appalshop, we believe that the arts are not just a form of self-expression but also a transformative force that empowers, inspires, and effects equitable change. We are grateful for the opportunity to discuss the impact of community art in such an important forum.

Best,

Alex Gibson

Executive Director

Appalshop on YouTube

In case you missed it, we heard your requests and are pleased to announce a project to make our films more accessible. Since our start in 1969, we’ve been making documentaries to share the Appalachian experience. Until now, they’ve been a little difficult to access. 

Every week we’ll be adding a couple of our 55 years of documentaries to our YouTube channel in chronological order. To make sure you don’t miss anything, subscribe and click that notification bell to receive an alert when a new film is uploaded. 

The response so far has been incredible. Revisiting these films has been such a joy, and having you comment with your own memories has been a treat. Thank you for engaging!