“Celebrating, Honoring, and Valuing Rich Traditions”
Book about Ohio Appalachian Arts Program Released
by Jami Goldstein

The success of the Ohio Arts Council’s Appalachian Arts Program is chronicled in a new book introduced today at the opening of the 29th Annual Appalachian Studies Conference. Coinciding with the Ohio Arts Council’s 40th anniversary, the book, “Celebrating, Honoring, and Valuing Rich Traditions,” by author Wayne Rapp, traces the evolution of the program from early assessments of talent and needs in Appalachian Ohio, through the initiative stage, to full program status.

The seeds for the Ohio Appalachian Arts Program were sown in 1978 when a plan was set in motion to develop a Minority Arts Program that included the underserved communities of Appalachia. The major program objective was that the Ohio Arts Council would be a partner with artists and arts agencies in the 29 Appalachian Counties to build and support arts and cultural projects to restore pride to the area.

“I think the Ohio Arts Council’s Appalachian Arts Program has been tremendously successful,” said Wayne Lawson, executive director of the Ohio Arts Council. “Not just because we found a way to put money back into the area, but because of the networking, the communication and the understanding of the importance of the arts to small communities and rural areas.”

The book uses works from famous poets of the Appalachian region, James Wright and Jim Wayne Miller, and interviews with the individuals involved with the building process to tell the story. Numerous examples of the benefits to artists and arts organizations that have been derived from the Ohio Appalachian Arts Program are documented in the book. After more than 25 years, the participants express pride in their accomplishments and hope for the program’s future. “Celebrating, Honoring, and Valuing Rich Traditions” is available for $12.95 through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or at www.luckypress.com/appalachia.

The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.

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