Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowships
Forecasted
Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowships support Black storytellers in researching, developing, performing, or documenting oral traditions to sustain Appalachia’s African American history, heritage, and culture.
Funder: Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): August 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Six $5,000 unrestricted fellowships annually, plus festival travel and lodging support for two years
Summary: Supports Black Appalachian storytellers who sustain oral traditions embodying the region’s African American history, heritage, and culture.
Key Information: Applicants must represent an eligible Appalachian county, but residency there is not required if they have strong heritage ties.
Description
The Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowships honor, celebrate, and support Black storytellers whose oral traditions embody the history, heritage, and culture of African Americans in Appalachia. Administered by the National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS), the program is a partnership with Mid Atlantic Arts and South Arts. It recognizes experienced practitioners and culture bearers who sustain storytelling rooted in family and community story-sharing.
The fellowships provide unrestricted support and opportunities to examine, research, develop, perform, or document Black Appalachian storytelling traditions. NABS awards one fellowship annually in each of six eligible states. Fellows receive national recognition at the “In the Tradition…” National Black Storytelling Festival and Conference and are invited to perform at the festival the following year.
