Thirteenth International Conference on The Arts in Society

Abstract

The Appalachian region of the south has long been the source of stereotyping for dramatic and political affect. Through the course of nine years as a resident in an Appalachian community in south-central Kentucky, the author experienced life as it is lived by the local people. Through the establishment of an art education organization, the author became entwined with local families and became familiar with the origins of many of those stereotypes. Using autoethnography to interpret her experiences, the author will confront the primary issues that surfaced: the acute designation of outsider status; the perception of the arts in underexposed communities; and, the unorthodoxy of a woman in the role of expert and leader. The goal of this analysis is to facilitate greater impact by arts organizations into isolated populations where outsider status is a prohibitive factor and relationship building is central to success.