Rich History and Art Intersect in Washington County, VA

Jay Huron

The Appalachian region of Southwest Virginia boasts a rich culture of storytelling, tradition and natural awe found at each turn. Amid the rugged beauty and splendid history of Washington County, a creative community flourishes, taking great pride in its rural surroundings and small-town tropes. Several historic venues in the community now serve as creative spaces for modern-day artists.

Community of Storytellers

Having grown up in Florida and attending college there, it wasn’t on Terrance Jackson’s radar to end up in rural Virginia. But after graduating with his theater degree in 2013, he found himself performing for Abingdon’s historic Barter Theatre. 

After several years of touring for the theater company, Jackson landed in Washington County full time in 2020. Not long after, Jackson and several of his cohorts at the theater followed a calling to make a difference in the Appalachian area. 

Black Stories Black Voices (BSBV) was created after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. “Out of that tragedy, we realized we needed to start highlighting and telling the stories of Black people, especially the stories of Black people in Appalachia,” Jackson says.

As Barter’s director of outreach and BSBV, Jackson and the theater’s leadership team work directly with Black playwrights to share authentic perspectives. BSBV continues to evolve with developing community events, public readings and much more to come. The stories of this vibrant region are seemingly endless.

Fabulous History in Washington County

The Barter Theatre is a jewel that has dazzled audiences for nine remarkable decades. Born amid the adversity of the Great Depression in 1933, this incredible theater emerged when Broadway actors decided to take fate into their own hands by putting on shows at an old opera house, instituting a bartering system where patrons could pay 35 cents or the food equivalent for tickets. 

The building itself also has an extremely storied and rich history in Washington County. 

“The Barter Theatre building was originally a church, but then it was turned into the Abingdon Opera House,” says Katy Brown, director of the theater. “Over the years, it’s also been city hall, the town’s firehouse, a dentist’s office and even the town jail. Prisoners were even directly under the performances in the 1930s!” 

The theater has continued to grow, even expanding to a second theater across the street. Barter Theatre is also unique in that it produces shows in-house, with multiple shows going on at any given time. 

Actors come from Broadway or use the theater as a jumping off point – in fact, Gregory Peck and Patricia Neil both got their start at Barter. “Ultimately, at our core, we are so embedded in this community,” Brown says. “The people here value story the same as they value food – it’s that important to them.” 

Joe Leonard

From Depot to Studio Space

Several days out of the week, you are likely to find Kevin Scott Burrill in an old freight station, painting the landscapes of Appalachian wilderness. The Arts Depot, a nonprofit studio space in Abingdon, reimagined the dismal state of a freight station, originally built in the 1860s. 

Once a place of raucous industry, The Arts Depot now offers resident studio space to local artists like Burrill and opens the space for the public’s viewing, boosting creative conversation and local artist sales. 

“Sometimes people come in just because it’s an interesting building. Sometimes we get train enthusiasts or history enthusiasts. These people come in and are exposed to incredible art along the way,” Burrill says. “It becomes the beginning of something that wouldn’t have otherwise happened if we weren’t here.”

Aside from the studio galleries, The Arts Depot hosts a variety of creative workshops, and in the summertime, exhibits the Juried Fine Art Show for the annual Virginia Highlands Festival, a competition for local 2-D artists.

In 2023, Burrill’s oil painting on pallet wood, “Trouble in the Red Oak: Raccoons,” took home the competition’s People’s Choice Award.

Appalachia’s Artistic Renaissance

Anna Buchanan divided her childhood between Midland, Michigan, and Grayson, Kentucky, but has always felt deeply connected to her Appalachian roots. “Moving to Southwest Virginia after graduate school felt like coming home,” Buchanan says.

Buchanan has worked as curator of contemporary fine art and craft at the William King Museum of Art (WKMA) for three years and has more than 10 years’ professional experience in galleries and museums. 

The visual and cultural heritage museum evolved from the entrepreneurial efforts of William King, an Irish immigrant and businessman who settled in Washington County in the 1790s. Now, the museum is a beacon of pride, beautifully blending the history of Appalachian art with the contemporary art of an ever-evolving and growing region. 

In addition to its incredible galleries, WKMA continues to increase its community involvement with creative workshops, special exhibits and other events throughout the year. 

“I feel very lucky to be living and working in the art scene in Appalachia right now,” Buchanan says. “To quote an amazing Appalachian artist and friend of mine, Eric Drummond Smith, ‘Appalachia is in the middle of an artistic Renaissance,’ and I really do believe that.” 

Generational Talent 

The Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace (SVCCM), which serves as the visitors center for Southwest Virginia, embodies the essence of the region’s cultural legacy. SVCCM is a portal to regional crafts, music, food and outdoor experiences. 

Patrons can explore over 3,600 masterpieces made by members of the ’Round the Mountain Artisan Network, showcasing the talent and craftsmanship that have endured through generations. 

“A lot of the artwork is a representation of our artisans’ stories,” says Olivia Bailey, director of marketing for Friends of Southwest Virginia. “Even though you might be coming to a retail center, you’re not just buying a product, you’re hearing their stories as well.” 

– Kelly Rogers contributed to this article.