A radio station connects prisoners with their families. A musical theater production tells stories of Puerto Rican and Appalachian identity. A record company produces banjo-rich folk music when traditional music might otherwise be lost. This is Appalshop, an arts organization based in Whitesburg, Kentucky. Having various arms working in different media, the organization uses the brand, “Art in a Democracy,” and aims to support and amplify Appalachian artists.
Something that fascinates me about Appalshop’s approach is their focus on place. Rather than beginning with an issue, they root themselves in their community and listen our for issues like mass incarceration and anti-black racism that need to be addressed. The place leads them to the issues rather than vice versa. While they treasure the local, they collaborate with groups like Junebug Productions in New Orleans and Pregones Theater in NYC. The local gives Appalshop its values, but Appalshop isn’t insular. Starting with the local, Appalshop has impact within its own community and beyond.