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Arts Forward Appalachia

In 2026, the Appalachian Arts Alliance reconstructed its internship program to create more intentional opportunities for young creatives at different stages of their educational and professional journeys. Arts Forward Appalachia consists of two distinct programs, each designed to help young Appalachians explore their creativity, develop professional skills, and envision a future in the arts.

AAA NextGen Creatives: High School & High School Graduates

A hands-on creative experience designed to help young people explore careers in the arts, build professional skills, work on community projects, and discover their creative strengths.

AAA Creative Residency Experience: College Students

An immersive experience designed to give college students a glimpse into life as a professional artist. Residents practice their craft while gaining experience teaching classes, leading projects, developing leadership skills, and engaging with the community.

Applications open January 2027

Summer 2026

AAA NextGen Creatives Accomplishments:

  1. Planned & Hosted 2 Teen Community Events
  2. Taught Summer Creativity Day Classes
  3. ‘Peer Support’ during Trail Blazers Week
  4. Completed Dog Park Mural & ArtStation Back Deck Mural
  5. Completed the 2026 Intern Project at Bobby Davis Park

Creative Residency Experience Accomplishments:

  1. Hosted Open Art Play at Bobby Davis Park
  2. Taught 2 ‘heART of Recovery’ Classes
  3. ‘Peer Support’ during Trail Blazers Week
  4. Individually taught children’s art classes I.e Ink Block, Embroidery, etc. 
  5. Completed the 2026 Individual Projects honoring Bobby Davis Park

Artist in Residence, Rose Engle’s 2026 Individual Project. 

‘Bobby Davis Park’

Watercolor Canvas

Artist in Residence, Wolfframmina Day 2026 Individual Project

‘Dragon’ 

Tires, Wooden, Spray Paint

NextGen Creatives 2026 Project

‘Bobby Davis Mosaic’

Glass

Artist in Residence, Gracie Stewart 2026 Individual Project

‘The Roots of a Father and a Son’

Acrylic Paint, Canvas

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Summer 2025

7 Interns standing in front of a Dragan mural for liberty High
 
 

List of Accomplishments:

  1. Taught 4 Summer Creativity Day Camps

  2. Peer Support during ‘Very Special Arts Week’

  3. Ran Kids Activities During Thursdays on the Grand

  4. Added Art to the ArtStation

  5. Completed the 2025 Intern Project with the ‘Liberty High Dragon’ Mural

2025 Intern Project

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The beginning of the Internship, the students were given a task to finish a project before the end of the summer. This project was a way for the students to collaborate together and to create but also to showcase their internship. The students started out with a Dragon and quickly learned about Liberty High, a school that was shut down in 1956. 

Liberty High was located on Liberty Street, Hazard Kentucky. This was a school for POC back when Hazard was segregated and their mascot was a Dragon. The students wanted to do a mural honoring the school and the teachers that taught there. After interviews & research, they had their design and were ready to paint! 2 Weeks of long nights and hot days, they were able to finish their mural which resides in downtown Hazard behind The Grand. Liberty High will forever live on in downtown Hazard because of the 2025 interns. 

Artist: Kaleigh Barrett, Mina Day, Rose Engle, Gracie Stewart, Josie Combs, Maddie Hays, Brack Messer, & Caleb Torrey.