In celebration of america's semiquincentennial, the asheville art museum will organize and present the first survey of documentary photography from southern appalachia through an exhibition and…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the Asheville Art Museum Association, Incorporated $1,043,440 on September 1, 2026, under the Museums for America program (CFDA 45.301) to organize and present the first survey of documentary photography from Southern Appalachia.

The museum will identify and source photographs created by artists, documentarians, and others spanning from the turn of the 20th century to the present, and will develop an exhibition and scholarly catalog. Staff will collaborate with regional scholars and community stakeholders to gather feedback and collect contextual stories. The museum will purchase materials and supplies for exhibition installation, engage scholars in catalog production, and develop educational programming for broad audiences and K-12 school groups. Work is performed at the museum's location in Asheville, North Carolina, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029. The project aligns with the museum's strategic objectives to advance public understanding of Appalachian and southeastern American art and regional heritage.

In celebration of america's semiquincentennial, the asheville art museum will organize and present the first survey of documentary photography from southern appalachia through an exhibition and catalog of photographs from the turn of the 20TH century to the present. The project will involve identifying sources of photography created by artists, documentarians, and others, and the museum staff will work with scholars and community stakeholders to gather feedback and collect stories to inform the development of educational programming. The museum will purchase materials and supplies to install the exhibition and engage regional scholars in the production of the catalog. The project team will develop programming for broad audiences as well as k-12 school groups. The project will benefit visitors to the museum by providing a deeper understanding of the southern appalachian region and its role in shaping the american experience.