Queer-led Appalchain Arts Alliance transforms Hazard

Photos by Bearykah Shaw

Hazard made a decision in 2013: they wanted more art in their community, and an arts organization to spur it on. With recent funding from the Foundation for Appalachian KY, they had the means to make it happen. “The arts in the schools were dwindling every single day,” Tim Deaton – Executive Director of the organization that came to life out of this consensus – recounts the formative steps taken to build up the art scene: “A group of concerned citizens wanted to see the arts thrive in the community. They wanted a place for the arts to have a house.” 

The Appalachian Arts Alliance was formed, but fell into a rut of stagnancy over a few years’ time. Deaton – originally a member of the Board of Directors – moved to the position of Executive Director in 2019. He’d noticed the lull in programming and sought to revitalize things. Despite a paycut and a lack of nonprofit know-how, he knew it was the best move. “[I thought] ‘I should just resign and take this job myself’. I wasn’t expecting other people to say, ‘You know, you’re right’”. 

As soon as Deaton took on his new role of Executive Director, the pandemic hit. Along with nearly every other business and organization at that time, the Appalachian Arts Alliance had to shut down. In response to this road block, Deaton sank all his energy into working on the dilapidated Artstation building, where the bulk of AAA’s programming takes place: “I’m an extreme extrovert. I like to be around people and be busy. Through COVID I came to the building every day and worked with the construction crew.” 

The work paid off. On July 11, 2020 the Artstation hosted an open house to 150 people in their courtyard. There was an unmatched fervor for the programming on deck. “The timing of it was the biggest catalyst. People were feeling so scared and alone because of the pandemic,” recalls Deaton. The isolation brought on by COVID stirred up an increased demand for intracommunal activity. “The citizens in the community showed up and showed out.” 

Deaton helped breathe new life into the Appalachian Arts Alliance – a once immobile arts org, spinning its wheels, in debt over a ramshackle building. It now serves as a busy hub for learning, creativity, and connection: ”It’s grown and grown. We are now out of capacity to host anything else. Between our individual events for the community, classes, and office hours, we have zero space.” 

But the AAA does not work single-handedly. It is integrated within Hazard, acting as a bullhorn for its residents. Deaton explains their multi-faceted approach: “[There are] so many different ways that our programming comes about. Sometimes it comes from someone walking in off the street and saying ‘Hey, have you heard of this type of art? I would love to do that.’ We’ll look for people across the state who do that type of art or craft, and if we don’t find someone, we learn it and teach it ourselves. We ask our community a lot: what do you want more of? Visual art? Community events? This kind of class?”

They are a conduit for fostering new ideas, while also serving as host – providing infrastructure for new visions to take life. The benefits reaped by this kind of robust arts programming are innumerable. The Appalachian Arts Alliance tethers the communal fabric of Eastern KY together. They offer a bridge to the history of Hazard. They conjure self-esteem in shy, curious kids. They inject color and life into the city’s streets.  

When asked how art changes a community, Deaton doesn’t miss a beat: “We are prolonging our heritage and passing that on to other generations. We also work on developing confidence in children. Having a student who is doubting themselves or is confused or uneasy and having them work through that and develop confidence has the ripple effect of developing initiative [for them] to do bigger and better things.” 

AAA sees the Artstation as a place where all are welcome, an inclination toward self-expression need be the only prerequisite for admission. Deaton – gay himself – recognizes the importance of providing support for marginalized folks who may often feel ostracized.

“If you’re in the LGBTQ community you’ve [probably] been hassled, and it can be scary to be comfortable in your own skin. One of the biggest things that I preach is: it doesn’t matter what you do or say, we are here to accept you as you come. There is zero tolerance for any harassing or bullying – anything but love or respect. And if you can’t get down with that then that isn’t the place for you.”

AAA facilitates a space where belonging and creativity lock in side by side, and from there, a special magic can unfold: “Through that we’ve kind of become the place for weirdos. No matter what line you come up in an improv or song you sing, we are going to applaud you at the end. A lot of orgs focus on perfection or extreme discipline, that’s not what we do here. [We want you] to be comfortable in your learning and be comfortable with what you share with us. We’re all human and none of the other stuff matters.”