INSPIRED BY APPALACHIA 2008 ARROWMONT SUMMER CONCERT SERIES OVERSEEN BY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FELLOW, ALISON HART

This past June 20 through July 18, 2008, the nationally renowned Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee presented its third annual summer concert series, Inspired by Appalachia. The concert series featured performances by The Lovell Sisters, Justin Townes Earle, Adrienne Young, and Darrell Scott. And overseeing the series was Performing Arts Center Fellow Alison Hart!

The aim of Inspired by Appalachia is to promote and preserve the rich musical traditions of Appalachia by presenting established and emerging artists whose music is inspired by the sound heritage of the mountains. Inspired by Appalachia seeks to present artists that illustrate the diversity of Appalachian music, from traditional old-time and gospel, to bluegrass, folk, country and the blend of contemporary Americana and Roots music that is thrusting this sound into the 21st century.

Inspired by Appalachia is made possible by an innovative partnership between the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and the University of Texas at Austin Performing Arts Center. In 2005 the Performing Arts Center instituted Performing Arts Management Fellowship in order to train the next generation of arts leaders. This competitive and unique hands-on fellowship allows its yearly recipient to do advanced work in all nine departments of the Performing Arts Center, from production and ticketing to marketing and development. The capstone experience for the fellowship program is producing the concert series at Arrowmont.

Alison viewed the highly-successful Arrowmont experience as, “a rare opportunity to produce all aspects of a performing arts series, and I learned a great deal about the business of presenting through the process.” She explains, “I believe the three key ingredients of this experience are the size of the series, the opportunity to work independently, but with the support from seasoned arts organizations, and the opportunity to program the artists.”

Alison has since found a permanent home at the Performing Arts Center by accepting a full-time position as Corporate and Member Associate.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Gene Bartholomew
512.471.0632
gbartholomew@utpac.org