Yeager Symposium: Arts in Appalachia
November 8 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Society of Yeager Scholars at Marshall University will present the 2024 Symposium Lecture, “Arts in Appalachia,” featuring a keynote speech by Leah Turley, creative artistic director of the Appalachian Artists Collective and director of Marshall University Theatre ETC. The event will highlight the rich artistic traditions and the importance of the arts for the empowerment of communities in the Appalachian region.
This event is free and open to the public, with no registration required.
Turley, who has played a vital role in promoting Appalachian voices through theater and theater education will deliver the keynote address. Her work at the intersection of art and Appalachian identity is expected to provide an inspiring perspective on the transformative power of the arts in the region.
Before the keynote, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions featuring a diverse group of Appalachian artists and creators, including:
• Sassa Wilkes – An artist and educator known for his provocative visual art that challenges societal boundaries.
• Jamie Sloane – A classically trained composer and self-taught visual artist whose work integrates classical influences with contemporary sensibilities.
• Rahul Mehta – An award-winning fiction author and poet whose works explore themes of identity and belonging, both within Appalachia and globally.
• Noah Ritchie – A student playwright and member of Alpha Psi Omega, the national theatre honor society, whose plays offer a fresh perspective on the experiences of young Appalachians.
• Sassa Wilkes – An artist and educator known for his provocative visual art that challenges societal boundaries.
• Jamie Sloane – A classically trained composer and self-taught visual artist whose work integrates classical influences with contemporary sensibilities.
• Rahul Mehta – An award-winning fiction author and poet whose works explore themes of identity and belonging, both within Appalachia and globally.
• Noah Ritchie – A student playwright and member of Alpha Psi Omega, the national theatre honor society, whose plays offer a fresh perspective on the experiences of young Appalachians.
The evening offers a unique opportunity for the public to engage with leading figures in the Appalachian arts community and explore how their work continues to shape the region’s cultural narrative.
The symposium is sponsored by the Marshall Health Network, the Society of Yeager Scholars, and Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society.
