Art of the Rural

JOIN US! ?? Next Wednesday, the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange (RUX) is celebrating the release of its 10-year case studies publication with a virtual launch party! This hybrid gathering will feature alumni and leaders across the RUX network in Kentucky, who will share stories of impact and lessons learned. And you’ll be among the first to read the new publication, titled “At the Speed of Trust: Stories from the First Decade of the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange.” Learn more & register via Zoom at tinyurl.com/RUXLaunch

Listen now! ?? In this first episode of the new Art of the Rural podcast, meet Faye Dant. Faye is the founder and director of Jim's Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center, an organization with a mission to build cross-cultural understanding by documenting, preserving and presenting the history of the 19th and 20th-century African American community in Hannibal and northeast Missouri. As a community historian and the curator of the Jim’s Journey Museum, Faye is compelled to tell these stories of the ordinary and extraordinary Black community—and to honor their experiences on the walls of this groundbreaking museum. This vision powers her celebrated book “Hannibal’s Invisibles,” released in 2024 by Belt Publishing, the culmination of an Art of the Rural fellowship supported by Good Chaos. If you know about Hannibal through the writings of Mark Twain – or from “James,” Percival Everrett’s recent awarding winning book – then you are in for a treat, as Faye offers the deep and often unseen story of the beauties and complexities of Black life in this community known as “America’s Hometown.” Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or visit our website to listen & find resources: https://lnkd.in/eAg9Cmmk Thank you to individual donors across the country, the Ford Foundation, and Good Chaos for supporting our media work and making this conversation possible.

Now celebrating our 15th year, Art of the Rural invites you to engage our new media projects launching this week! ???Our Broadsheet newsletter is now hosted on Substack! Broadsheet will continue to feature stories, opportunities, and resources from throughout the field of rural arts & culture. Subscribe for free & explore now at artoftherural.substack.com! ???Tomorrow, we are premiering the new “Art of the Rural” podcast! The twice-monthly podcast will feature artists & culture bearers from throughout rural America and Indian Country. Get ready to listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts, and find full episode descriptions & transcripts on our website at artoftherural.org/podcast. We are deeply grateful to the Ford Foundation, the Good Chaos Foundation, and individual donors across the country for making these conversations possible. Learn more about our work and show your support today at artoftherural.org. Stay tuned all week long on social media & Substack to learn more about these projects and join the conversation!

Applications for the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange (RUX)’s 2025-2026 cohort close TODAY! Don't miss the chance to join this one-of-a-kind program & statewide network of connective intercultural leaders. Learn more & apply at kyrux.org/apply

Need help with your KY RUX cohort application, or have questions about the process & the program? Join our Steering Committee members for a virtual open house on Saturday, February 22nd, at 10:00am ET via Zoom! Register & attend at the link in our bio or head to tinyurl.com/RUXOpenHouse25 #KYRUX2025 #kentuckyproud #ruralurbanexchange #communitybuilding #creativeleadership #civichealth #kentucky

?? Full Clickable List: kyrux.org/blog/flood2025 ?? We are sending extra love and care to you and your loved ones across the Commonwealth today, as our communities navigate the severe flooding that began over the weekend. The KY RUX Steering Committee & staff send our deepest sympathy and solidarity at this time. We wanted to take this opportunity to share resources for the different regions of the state affected by the floods. If you are a member of the RUX network and have been impacted, or if you know of other community-led resources to assist flood-impacted folks, please reach out to us at [email protected]. You can also message us directly on Facebook & Instagram. With care & gratitude, The KY RUX Steering Committee & Staff #kentucky #kentuckyfloods #easternky #westernky #flood #flooding2025 #appalachia

Meet the 2025 Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange (RUX) Steering Committee! These connective, cross-sector leaders, all alumni of the RUX leadership cohort, are dedicated to Kentucky’s civic health and central to every aspect of RUX's programming. Say hello and give a big thank you to Contea Allan, Bayley Amburgey, Shaelyn Bishop, Lauren Calhoun, Bernard Clay, Jim Guthrie, Ellie Hasken-Wagner, Kyra Higgins, Tyler McDaniel, Olivia Spradlin, Jess Stevens, Azucena "Susie" Trejo, Robin Verson, and Jenny Williams! We can't wait to gather with them throughout the year and see RUX grow through their leadership. Meet each of the Steering Committee members here: https://lnkd.in/erWgZMHn #KYRUX #KYRUX2025 #ruralurbanexchange #civichealth #kentuckyproud #kentucky

Meet the newest staff members of the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange (RUX)! We are so excited to welcome Maggie Goodman (?? Hickman) as our Network Manager and Grace Rogers (?? Louisville / Bath County) as our Communications & Development Coordinator. Maggie & Grace will work closely with the Steering Committee and Art of the Rural staff to lead RUX into its second decade. Give a big welcome to our newest team members below and learn more about them at kyrux.org/leadership

APPLY NOW! ?? Applications are OPEN for the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange (RUX)’s 2025-2026 cohort! This two-year leadership program brings together a cross-sector, collaborative group of Kentuckians while exploring local communities & fostering dialogue across our Commonwealth. Learn more about the program, hear from alumni, and apply by March 10 by heading to kyrux.org/apply #KYRUX2025 #kentuckyproud #ruralurbanexchange #communitybuilding #creativeleadership #civichealth #kentucky

Congratulations to our Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange (RUX) Artists Respond micrograntees and their powerful creative projects throughout KY! ?? Experience their projects now and see how these creative leaders bridged divides among communities, generations, counties, and art forms. Visit kyrux.org/blog Thank you to the Creative Change Coalition (Springboard for the Arts), Kentucky Arts Council, and Fund for the Arts for helping us invest over $35,000 in Kentucky artists through these microgrants. Want to get involved in KY RUX? Applications for our 2025 leadership cohort open in just a few weeks, and you can sustain our work today at kyrux.org/membership #KYRUX #KYRUX2025 #kentuckyart #kentuckyartist #kentuckyproud