Expanding arts in Appalachian communities

NEA to offer new workshop for Appalachian Gateway Communities

This is an opportunity for communities in the Upstate S.C. counties of Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg. Deadline to apply is May 31.

Since 2007, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with The Conservation Fund, have helped Appalachian “gateway” communities – those that are entry points or adjacent to Appalachia’s national and state parks and forests – expand tourism, arts, and other community and economic development opportunities. With programming that has included targeted technical assistance, community tourism assessments, tourism planning workshops, and small grants for project implementation, the Appalachian Gateway Communities Initiative (AGCI) has touched more than 1,000 communities and 100 counties.

In August 2018, The Conservation Fund will host the inaugural Advanced Project Implementation Workshop for Appalachian Gateway Communities in Shepherdstown, W.Va. This 3-day workshop is designed for teams from gateway communities that have previously participated in AGCI activities or are ready to implement new or ongoing community projects. In addition to hearing from both national and regional experts, a main feature of the workshop will be to reassess and build capacity for community projects and planning efforts, as well as receive technical assistance on various topics to develop an action-oriented roadmap for implementation.

The full team application materials can be found on the Course Web Page. The team application deadline is May 31st.

Please contact Katie Allen (304.876.7925, kallen@conservationfund.org) or Kendra Briechle (703.908.5817, kbriechle@conservationfund.org) to learn more about this opportunity!