Founded 1969 in Appalachia, KY.
Based in Whitesburg, KY.
Appalshop is a nonprofit, multi-disciplinary organization that urges communities to solve problems through music, theater, spoken word, video, radio, photography, and other media. Originally founded as a job training program of the U.S. government’s War on Poverty, their projects enlist the collective creativity of neighborhoods to create unique public spaces where individuals can voice their opinions, share their stories, and tackle their communities’ social and institutional issues. Initially established to document Appalachian culture, such public spaces have since manifested in a variety of media, enabling Appalshop’s projects to reach broad international audiences. For instance, Thousand Kites (1998), co-founded and directed by Nick Szuberla, initiated a global dialogue on human rights and the U.S. criminal justice system through live performances, radio discussions, educational programs, and an interactive website where users tell their own stories and listen to those of others. Appalshop aims to preserve individual and community traditions and support cultural diversity by disseminating original media and fostering conversation.
