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Hindman Settlement School Inc

Hindman Settlement School empowers Central Appalachia through education, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering community. We change lives by promoting literacy and celebrating local stories, music, and traditions.

Ashpet: The Kentucky Cinderella Long ago, in a cabin deep in an Eastern Kentucky holler, lived a serving girl called Ashpet. All day long she chopped firewood, washed clothes, and cooked and cleaned for the Widow Hooper and her three cranky and selfish daughters. One day, they receive an invitation to attend the yearly church picnic in town. While the Widow Hooper and her three daughters busy themselves with preparing for the party, where they hope to catch the eye of the doctors son, Ashpet is left behind to tend to the chores. But Ashpet&rsquo;s life changes for the better when old Granny shows up to work her magic&hellip;. Sound familiar? &ldquo;Ashpet&rdquo; is the Appalachian version of the classic &ldquo;Cinderella&rdquo; story! &ldquo;Ashpet: The Kentucky Cinderella&rdquo; is adapted from Joanne Comptons retelling of this Appalachian folk tale. Join us as Hindman Settlement School, September 28-October 1st (Knott Co. Schools Fall Break) for a Theater Camp! 3rd through 8th grade students can audition to perform in this classic folk tale, with an Eastern Kentucky spin! In addition to speaking parts, we&rsquo;ll have non-speaking roles like Sound Effects and Stage Crew for those who prefer to be behind the scenes. Theater camp will run September 28th through October 1st, 1:30 to 5:00 at Hindman Settlement School with the final performance on October 1st at 6:30! The cost for the camp is $25 per student and includes all supplies and a healthy snack.

Ashpet: The Kentucky Cinderella | Theater Camp

Want to lock in and get some writing done? Come to campus or join us virtually for our (late) Summer Write-In! We&#39;ll have quiet space available for those who want the accountability of community to work on a current project, and we&#39;ll have prompts for those who want inspiration to start something new!

Summer Write-In

🎉 Excitement is in the air! Get ready to be part of something extraordinary at Hindman Settlement School Inc&#39;s fundraising event. It&#39;s an event like no other, and we want you to be there! 🎉 Every registration to this event will bring us closer to achieving our mission. Together, we can create a brighter, more compassionate world for all. Thank you for supporting our mission, your support is invaluable.

Writers Workshop

Oak Ledge Writing Residency

Join us for 2026 Hindman Day at the Races 🐎, a day of fun that helps fuel literacy, cultural heritage, and community programs across Central Appalachia. Your registration supports Hindman Settlement School&rsquo;s mission to change lives through education and to celebrate the stories, music, and traditions of our region. Come spend the day with friends, enjoy the races, and support the vital work that happens each day at the Forks of Troublesome Creek.

2026 Hindman Day at the Races

Dumplin&rsquo;s &amp; Dancin&rsquo; is more than just a get-together. It&rsquo;s a community-wide gathering where farmers, musicians, chefs, square dance callers, seed savers, dancers, and food activists, all committed to the preservation of Appalachian foodways and dance traditions, come together to learn, network, and eat at the historic Hindman Settlement School.Attendees may choose to take part in a host of workshops and each evening features a powerful keynote along with lively music and dancing. Explore the <a fr-original-style="" href="https://hindman.org/home/dumplins/schedule/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">weekend schedule</a> and the bios of our <a fr-original-style="" href="https://hindman.org/home/dumplins/chefs-faculty/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">weekend chefs and faculty</a>.

2026 Dumplins & Dancin'

A Gathering of Scholars &amp; CreativesWinter Burrow is a great opportunity for many of our Hindman families to come together, such as our creative writers, our artists, our musicians, our community organizers, our teachers, and our scholars. We can share expertise and ideas across discipline and genre and see how all our interests weave together and overlap.

Hindman Settlement School Inc

Hindman Settlement School Inc

Events

Events

2026 Hindman Day at the Races

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2026 Dumplins & Dancin'

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Winter Burrow 2026 | Appalachia: The Stuff of Futures!

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More ways to support us

Oak Ledge Writing Residency

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