Since 1969, Appalshop has been partnering with Central Appalachians in building media artworks. At that time it was established as the community Film workshop of Appalachia, one of a dozen job training centers the federal government created to train youth for employment in the film and television industry. Eventually the new, young filmmakers saw the need to build local capacity in representing Appalachian culture, and evolved into a non-profit production company that has grown to develop original film, video, and audio work and houses a vibrant community radio station, theater, and an art gallery
Within its creative work, Appalshop lens a hand technically, structurally, and philosophically to area community activists. Current contentious issues in the region include deforestation, mining encroaching on personal property, welfare reform and the influence of Virginia's two nearby maximum-security prisons upon culture, thought, and the economy. The Shop's aim through all its activity is layered: to celebrate the traditions and voice the concerns of mountain people, and to engender social change through indigenous expression. In this light, Appalshop welcomes a range of community interests, from beekeeping to Alzheimer's disease to opportunities for local young people (by Julia de Bruicker)
http://www.appalshop.org/
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