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SPOTLIGHT
ON THE ARTS - October 2005 by Deanna Mascle Celebrating Tradition, Introducing Diversity “The goal for our community performances and educational field trips for students is to present both Appalachian and culturally diverse programs. It is important, especially for the students, to see that performers representing our Appalachian heritage are as talented as those from anywhere and that our story is unique and interesting to the rest of the world,” said education director David Musser. The Appalachian Heritage Alliance also considers it an important mission to encourage the artistic expression of people from the area. Workshops and classes have opened the door of artistic expression and economic opportunities for people in one of the most economically distressed areas of the country. “Programs offered by AHA to schools in Eastern Kentucky have enriched the students’ learning experience through live professional theater, music, dance performances, math and science workshops, and hands-on arts opportunities,” explained AHA director Janine Musser. AHA’s roots extend back to the formation in 1989 of the Wolfe County Arts Association (WCAA) by a group of citizens interested in promoting the arts in Wolfe and surrounding counties. In 1998, WCAA began a partnership with the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) at a local settlement type school, Hazel Green Academy. CAP restored the facility and WCAA directed the programming. With a grant from the Steele-Reese Foundation they established a Life-Long Learning Center and served approximately 5,000 people a year. “We provided retreats, classes, after-school activities, and workshops for people from across the state. In 2003, the owners of the HGA decided to lease the facility to a religious group,” she explained. “To reflect that our service area had become regional and continue our mission, we changed our name to the Appalachian Heritage Alliance.” Today AHA serves 8,000 students from seven surrounding counties with professional, high-quality arts and educational field trips. In addition, AHA has brought dozens of artists, performances, and workshops into the schools and community, including over 50 professional children’s theater performances. “We encourage the celebration of traditional Appalachian Arts as well as showcasing the cultural traditions from other regions. Russian, African, Greek, Mexican and Spanish artists have come to our community to share their culture and art. The AHA gives community people the opportunity to explore their own artistic talents through workshops in stained glass, carving, painting, quilting, writing, and ‘Camp Create,’ a week-long arts summer camp for students,” she added. In addition, AHA – along with Appalshop, Afamba and the Foothills Artists - sponsored ‘Where Art Meets Ed’ for six years. This innovative, highly successful, week-long workshop provided professional development for classroom teachers in a wide range of arts disciplines. The Kentucky Unbridled Spirit Rediscover Bicycle America Project with Joe Bowen is another AHA project. Joe Bowen, recipient of the first Kentucky Unbridled Spirit Award, is retracing a 14,000-mile bicycle tour of America he originally took 38 years ago. He is working with AHA to teach an on-line class to fourth and fifth grade students while he rides. The on-line class begins this fall. The Eastern Kentucky Heritage Monument is yet another major project. “We are working with the five-county Mountain Parkway Trails Corridor, a division of Southern and Eastern Kentucky Tourism and Development Association, on this ambitious venture,” continued Janine Musser. “This is a high-quality art project that honors our heritage as well as an economic development project that, according to the economic impact/ feasibility study, will be a major economic engine for the entire region.” Deanna Mascle is a
staff writer for The Lane Report. |
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While the Appalachian Heritage Alliance is devoted to preserving and promoting Appalachia’s unique artistic traditions as expressed through music, performing arts, language and visual arts, it also brings artists from around the world to the region. In fact, the Appalachian Heritage Alliance has sponsored hundreds of professional arts, educational, and cultural events.