Culture shifts Archives - Appalachian History

Changing Appalachia: From Custom to Cutting Edge

Dr. Katie Hoffman & Dr. Jean Haskell curated a newly opened arts exhibit at the Portsmouth Arts Center that celebrates Appalachian art today.

“We undervalue our diversity here,” says Nate May. “We white-out a significant portion of our history, much to our own detriment.”

What will Appalachian culture of tomorrow look like? Will it just be another spot on the map more associated with coal than its own people?

“From my youngest years,” says storyteller Adam Booth, “I watched, listened and absorbed the stories and life around me. I fondly remember.”

While it’s a little harder to find these days, I believe the age-old spirit of Appalachia still resides in pockets of East Tennessee.

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