CALT Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowship
Introduction
Mid Atlantic Arts partners with the National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS) and South Arts on the Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowships. This program honors and promotes the understanding of Black Appalachian storytelling traditions that embody the history, heritage, and culture of African Americans in the region. The National Association of Black Storytellers awards one Fellowship per year in each of the six eligible states: Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Fellows receive $5,000 in unrestricted funding, a unique physical award created by a Black Appalachian artist, and NABS membership during their award year. The Fellows are honored each year at the “In the Tradition…” National Black Storytelling Festival and Conference. The year following their award, each Fellow is invited to perform at the Festival.
The Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowships are part of Mid Atlantic Arts’ Central Appalachia Living Traditions program
Eligibility and Schedule
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
- Represent one of the counties designated by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, or Virginia.
- Applicants do not need to reside in an ARC-designated county, but should have strong ties to Black Appalachian identity and heritage, such as being born there or maintaining family connections.
- Have the commitment and proven ability to sustain the traditions of Black storytelling.
- Identify as an oral tradition culture bearer and reflect the story-sharing traditions of family and/or community.
Schedule:
- Monday, June 15, 2026: 2026 Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowship application opens
- CLOSED Monday, August 10, 2026: Application deadline
- Monday, August 31, 2026: Decision notification
- 44th National Black Storytelling Festival and Conference: November 3-8, 2026, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Warwick, Rhode Island
Current Fellows
2026 Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellows
- Lorenzo “Baba-C” Calendar II: Allegheny County, Virginia
- Maureen Cadogan: Portsmouth, Ohio
- Rita Lorraine Hubbard: Chattanooga, Tennessee
- LeAnna T. Luney: Berea, Kentucky
- Ron Scott, Jr.: Wheeling, West Virginia
- Lucretia VanDyke: Kings Mountain, North Carolina
The 2026 Fellows will be honored at the 44th annual “In The Tradition…” National Black Storytelling Festival and Conference in Warwick, Rhode Island. They are also invited to present at the 2027 Festival and Conference. Each Fellow will receive a physical award created by Virginia gourd carver and instrument maker Dr. Dena Jennings.
Previous Fellows
To view the list of previous Fellows, please click here.
