GOVERNOR PROCLAIMS MARCH 18TH, 2023 APPALACHIAN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DAY
PRESTONSBURG, KY – On Monday, March 13th, 2023, Governor Andy Beshear officially proclaimed March 18th as a day to recognize and honor the rich cultural history that the Appalachian region has provided to the world through music, song, dance, and written works.
The announcement was made at the prestigious Mountain Arts Center (MAC) in Prestonsburg, Kentucky with representatives of the City of Prestonsburg, Prestonsburg Tourism, Pikeville Tourism, and Paintsville Tourism, Big Sandy Community and Technical College, and the Appalachian Arts and Entertainment Awards committee in attendance. For the second year, The MAC will host the Appalachian Arts and Entertainment Awards, the “Grammy’s” of the Appalachian region.
According to Jill Hamlin, Assistant Director of Fine Arts for Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) and the creator of the event, the ceremony seeks to highlight the diverse culture and rich talent that the entire 13-state Appalachian region offers.
“This will officially be our second year since our first was virtual in 2021. Our 2022 live event was amazing, and we know that 2023 will be bigger and better. It already is in many ways. We are thrilled with the response to the nomination and voting process. We have seen nominees from all 13 states that make up the Appalachian region,” Hamlin said.
A fairly unknown fact about the Appalachian region is the extent of its footprint. The region runs from New York to Mississippi and encompasses multiple locations within 13 states. Those states that are considered Appalachian are: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.
“For us to have nominees from each of these states is an amazing testament to the talent and diversity of the region and to the interest in a ceremony that highlights the best the entire region has to offer,” Hamlin said.
According to Hamlin, having the honor of an official proclamation from the Governor of Kentucky only adds credence to the mission of the ceremony.
“We are truly humbled and honored to have Governor Beshear proclaim March 18th 2023 as a day that recognizes the talent our region offers our residents and the residents of the rest of the world. We hope, in the future, other states will follow suit and recognize their positive impact on the world of arts and entertainment. Finally, this region is getting seen in a positive light for our contributions to the arts,” Hamlin said.
The 2023 ceremony will be held at The Mountain Arts Center on Saturday, March 18th, with a Red-Carpet Event at 6pm and the award ceremony beginning at 7pm. This year’s hosts are Cincinnati TV personality Lacey Roberts and Louisville TV Personality JC Phelps. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.macarts.com or by calling 1-888-MAC-ARTS.