Rural communities across the nation boast rich traditions, both new and old. Stay up to date on the latest news, reviews, and storytelling on rural arts and culture. From music and film, to literature and history, to festivals and food, we’ve got it covered.
John O’Neal and Junebug Jabbo Jones: Theater from the Rural South
John O’Neal, 1940-2019, helped build a theater movement that supported voting rights and crossed cultural frontiers. His work is part of a new book featuring the plays of Appalachia’s Roadside Theater. Roadside and O’Neal collaborated for decades on plays that built common ground across race and geography while honoring individual cultural identity.
More Arts and Culture Stories
From a Queer Prom to a Pronoun Workshop: LGBTQ+ School and Community-Based Orgs Offer Rural Support
A new study says that groups providing support to LGBTQ+ youth improve their health and well-being.
45 Degrees North: Sticker Shock
Ever wonder why rural volunteer fire and EMS departments always seem to be holding fundraisers? It’s because they have to.
What Do Dating Apps Bring to The Rural Matchmaking Table?
Rural romance can be enhanced by dating apps, but some users think they have their challenges too. One example – reaffirming harmful stereotypes.
Legal Clinic Provides Aid to Rural Kentucky Residents
Law students get the practice they need, while helping rural populations that often lack legal resources to protect their rights.
45 Degrees North: Spring Thaw
When it seems like winter just won’t let go, one way to manage cabin fever is by finding something to celebrate. Here’s how they do it Up North.
The Pandemic Pushed Rural Philanthropy to Change
Extreme circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic forced philanthropic organizations to focus more on relationship-building and on-the-ground support for their rural partners.
Featured Coverage
Stay in the loop on the latest in rural arts and culture.
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
Related Coverage
Even More Arts and Culture Stories to Explore
45 Degrees North: Need-To-Know
News travels fast in rural communities – except when it doesn’t. Sometimes there are things your neighbors, first responders, mail carriers and others need to know. But how do you keep that stuff from leaking into the local rumor mill?
Home-Based Care: Fixing the Childcare Drought in Rural America
Some rural counties are trying an approach to tackle childcare shortages. A new program supports home-based childcare providers with resources, education, and grants.
Accidental Rancher: Pocket Eggs and Other Ranch Blessings
Eliza Blue wins an egg lottery and avoids an expensive dry cleaning bill for her coat.
45 Degrees North: Dressing For Cold
Winter weather means outdoor recreation has the potential to kill. There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for staying warm indoors, outdoors, and in between. But here are tips from rural northern Wisconsin that can help you dress for the cold.
An Educator Turns into a Student
On a journey that’s going to take him two years, a former educator wants to document and collect knowledge from rural communities and cultures often sidelined in our popular discourse.
Moonshine: From No Business to Big Business
Once illegal but highly sought-after, the hard “likker” of Appalachia is slowly trickling into the wide river of government-sanctioned booze.
Wynonna Judd: ‘It’s OK to Reach Out for Help’
Perseverance, strength and support take center stage during Wynonna Judd’s concert tour.
Commentary: Monday Mornings
Community service is more often community building. And those performing it are often recipients of the service themselves.
Q&A: Expanding the Historical Record of Rural Black Southerners
The University of Arkansas Press has launched a new book series that focuses on the history of rural Black people who opted out of the South’s Great Migration. The series is edited by historians Yulonda Eadie Sano and Cherisse Jones-Branch.
45 Degrees North: When You Don’t Know The Neighbors
Watching out for others is in the DNA of rural people. But how do we get to be good neighbors to those whose paths never cross our own?
Catching up with ‘Yellowstone,’ TV’s Trending Rural Phenomenon
Part western, part soap opera, Yellowstone isn’t just one of the most-watched shows on TV. It’s also the centerpiece of a growing rural-centric entertainment empire.
The Information Age Silences 411 – Technology Continually Changes, but the Need to Know Is Timeless
Within a single lifetime, some rural communities have gone from switchboards and party lines to fiber-optic internet. The need for rural America to keep up with the change is greater than ever.
Commentary: The Remedy for Celebrity and Despair
Giving the “bottom-up” change another chance might be a good idea for fixing what ails our communities.
War and Cattle: How One Nebraskan Made it From Two Tours in Ramadi to Ranching in the Sandhills
During 2 combat tours in Ramadi, he missed the Sandhills ranch where he grew up. Now Garrett Dwyer runs that ranch — one of 300 veterans making the transition from service member to Nebraska farmer with the aid of a novel nonprofit.
45 Degrees North: Snow Country Driveways
Keeping your rural driveway clear will endear you to UPS, FedEx, and propane delivery drivers, first responders, and others. Here are things to know when you live in snow country.
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.