APPALSHOP INC

The appalshop archive was first founded in 2003. Project staff, including two archivists, have evaluated the appalshop archives of film, video, and audio recordings, both finished products and "raw tape." they describe their work as "stabilizing and organizing the collection" so it can be made available to the public and community. This has included building a new vault, preservation of work in a variety of formats, cataloguing the materials, and improving access to collection. The archive project is working with other appalshop staff to make archival materials available to the public in new formats and to evaluate paper holdings.

All other programs are operated to accomplish goals of appalshop. For example, other programs include: (1) the appalachia media institute: ami has trained local appalachia young people in media skills since 1988. (2) the community media institute: cmi works with people in grassroots community organizations to help them develop the skills to tell their own stories. The cmi "making connections project" documents initiatives of mountain communities to address repidly changing econimc and political realities. (3) seedtime on the cumberland, in its 36th year, is a multi-disciplinary arts festival bringing together some of the finest regional and national musicians, craftspeople, and vendors, as well as producing a series of film screenings and workshops. (4) the traditional music project supports traditional music in local communities with old-time days at appalshop; the after-school "passing the pick and bow" classes, in which traditional musicians teach children fiddle, banjo, and guitar; programming on wmmt and publicizing traditional regional music festivals. (5) many other programs to enlist the power of education, media, theater, music, and other arts to document and revitalize the lasting traditions and contemporary creativity of appalachia; to tell stories that the commercial cultural industries do not tell; challenging stereotypes with appalachian voices and visions; to support communities' efforts to achieve justice and equity, and solve their own problems in their own way; to celebrate cultural diversity as a positive social value; and to participate in regional, national, and global dialogue toward these ends.