October 1st & 2nd, 2024

Gateway Regional Arts Center

Mount Sterling, Kentucky

the inaugural

Affrilachia Summit

on Black Arts & Culture in Central Appalachia

The Affrilachia Summit is a groundbreaking national convening that seeks to celebrate, codify, and uplift the under-represented voices of rural Black artists from Central Appalachia.

This free two-day event will provide a platform for the Black artist-activists in our region to convene, showcase their work, gain visibility, and connect with other Black creatives & activists in Appalachia.

By bringing together a diverse cross-section of the public, as well as artists, musicians, scholars, academics, and researchers, the summit aims to create a space for critical dialogue and inquiry that will help to shape the future of the Affrilachian experience as it pertains to racial justice through creative means.

The Affrilachia Summit represents an exciting opportunity to celebrate the diversity and richness of our region's Black creatives and activists, and to forge new connections and collaborations within this dynamic field within a region where Black folks are too often othered and live much of their lives in the shadows of a predominantly white area. This event will reach local citizen-artists and non-artists alike, and will renew a collective spirit for racial justice and art-centered activism in our region.

call for proposals

Call for Proposals

Established and emerging Black Appalachian Artists, Activists, Historians, and Culture Bearers are welcome to submit proposals for a symposium presentation, workshop, or performance at the Summit.

Find out more about session types and submit your proposal at the link.

attend

Attend the Summit

The Affrilachia Summit is FREE for all attendees. Thirty-five “Affrilachia Scholars” will receive a $100 stipend to attend and participate in the two-day event. More info can be found on the Attendee Registration Form below.

REGISTER TO ATTEND THE 2024 AFFRILACHIA SUMMIT ON OCTOBER 1st & 2nd, 2024

The Affrilachia Summit

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