The Affrilachia Summit welcomes submissions from Affrilachian artists, educators, activists, writers, performers, and creatives, as well as those who study the contributions of Black Appalachian arts & culture in an academic or scholarly capacity. All relevant topics are welcome; especially those that question, provoke, or challenge prevailing narratives about Appalachia, and those that highlight the unique contributions of Affrilachians to the region’s art & culture.

Proposal Types

The Affrilachia Summit will consist of the following types of presentations:

• Paper Presentations (20 minutes): Academic paper presented orally featuring original research on a topic related to Black culture in Appalachia

• Performances (30 minutes): Musical, theatrical, poetic, or movement-based presentation that relates to Appalachian styles or comments on an aspect of Black life in Appalachia

• Hands-on Workshops (1 hour): Includes participatory element with participants walking away with a new skill or deeper understanding of topic related to Black Appalachian art, culture, foodways, music, etc.

• Poster Presentations (must be standard 22x28 poster): Single poster presented throughout the conference featuring a visually stimulating research project based on topics related to Black Appalachian life

Submission

Proposals should be submitted at the link below. Anyone from the Appalachian Region is welcome to submit a proposal, but only the most relevant proposals will be selected. Applicants should spend ample time and energy to prepare a quality application which will increase the likelihood of its selection. Proposals are due August 23, 2024 at 11:59pm ET with a decision on selected proposals being sent on or before August 27, 2024.