Appalshop Creators Fund

Geographic Scope: Central Appalachia, generally defined to include Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Tennessee, Western North Carolina, West Virginia, and Southwest Virginia

Focus Areas: All creative mediums eligible, including:

• Writing that shifts narratives
• Photography
• Music
• Visual art
• Performance art
• Any other creative expression

Purpose: Provide relief and support for individual creatives during crises (originally launched in response to COVID-19 pandemic and anti-Black racism). Fund aims to support artists best positioned to amplify the region's cultural diversity.

Eligibility:

• Must be 14 years or older
• Must be a creator/artist in central Appalachia
• Anyone with a social security number eligible (no US citizenship requirement)
• Minors under 18 require parent/guardian waiver if selected
• Prioritized applicants: BIPOC creators, LGBTQ+ creators, caregivers, immuno-compromised individuals
• However, any central Appalachian creator eligible regardless of identity

What They Support:

• Individual creator stipends
• Collaborative work with partners encouraged but not required
• No requirement to produce a "final product"
• Appalshop hopes to discuss sharing work with broader audience

Background: Inspired by community response funds set up across the country. First round (2020) funded 7 creators; second announcement (October 2020) funded 10 artists including painters, poets, visual artists, photographers, videographers, printmakers, performance artists, and rappers.

Application Process

1. Submission Method: Digital Google Form submission
2. Deadline: 11:59 PM EST on specified deadline (first round: July 17, 2020)
3. Notification: Grantees notified approximately 4 weeks after deadline

Required Materials

Details available in the Google Form application; specific requirements not fully detailed in provided text

FAQs

• Award amount if selected: $3,000 stipend
• Age requirement: 14 years or older
• US citizenship: Anyone with social security number eligible
• Partnership eligibility: Yes, can use money to create with public or private partners
• Final product requirement: Not required, but Appalshop hopes to speak with grantees about sharing work
• Number of grantees: Varies by round (7 in first round; 10 in second round announced)

Questions

Contact Jessica Shelton at [email protected] with any questions not answered in FAQ