FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Long after the last whitewater rafts are pulled from the New River and winter quiet settles over the nation’s newest national park, one Fayette County town hopes artists will keep visitors coming.
The community of Fayetteville, perched on the edge of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, is best known as one of Appalachia’s premier outdoor recreation destinations. Organizers behind Fayetteville Creates believe it can become something more—a year-round creative hub where painters, writers, musicians, comedians, and other artists inspire residents and travelers long after the peak tourism season has ended.
The month-long residency returns this winter with an expanded schedule of workshops, talks, and family programming that brings nationally recognized creatives to town and offers the public free opportunities to learn from them.
For organizers, however, the residency is more than an arts program. It is part of a long-term vision to broaden Fayetteville’s identity beyond rafting, climbing, and hiking while strengthening local businesses during one of the region’s quietest months.
“We’re outdoor recreation—that’s awesome,” program coordinator Andrea St. Amand said. “But for everybody who loves our natural beauty and isn’t into rafting or climbing, we’re a creative hub.”
January has traditionally been one of the slowest months for businesses around the New River Gorge. By inviting artists to live and work in Fayetteville during the off-season, organizers hope to bring new energy to downtown while giving residents and winter travelers something unexpected to experience.
A different kind of artist residency
Unlike many artist residencies, Fayetteville Creates isn’t centered on producing a finished painting, novel, or exhibition.
Instead, the program gives seven artists from around the country a month to focus on their creative work while staying in donated vacation rentals throughout the community. Rather than donating artwork at the end of the residency, each participant simply offers one free workshop, class, lecture, or other public event.
“It’s a process-driven residency,” St. Amand said. “They don’t have to deliver a product to us at the end of the month. The only thing they need to do is give one workshop, talk, or class, and it’s free for the community.”
Applications for the 2027 residency open on Aug. 15 and remain open through Oct. 31.
Organizers welcome applicants from virtually every creative discipline. Last year’s residency included a quilter whose work has been exhibited internationally, as well as journalists, writers, and visual artists. Future residents could just as easily include comedians, magicians, musicians, photographers, or filmmakers.
“We want people to know this exists,” St. Amand said. “It’s not just painters. It’s any creative discipline.”
Bringing creativity to Fayetteville’s quiet season
Rather than gathering in a single gallery or arts center, Fayetteville Creates spreads its programming across downtown businesses and community spaces.
Visitors might attend a photography workshop in a brewery, hear a journalist discuss overseas reporting, watch a quilting demonstration, take a painting class, or simply spend an evening talking with visiting artists over coffee.
Last year’s residency filled venues throughout town, with programs hosted by Cathedral Cafe, Lost Appalachia Trading Co., Freefolk Brewery, Southside Junction, New River Yoga, and other community partners.
The expanded 2027 residency will add children’s programming on Saturday afternoons while continuing adult workshops, lectures, and discussions.
Thursday evenings will also take on a new role, highlighting West Virginia artists and introducing local creatives to grants, networking opportunities, and other resources available through organizations such as the West Virginia Creative Network.
For travelers, the residency offers a different way to experience the New River Gorge. Instead of building an itinerary around rapids or hiking trails, visitors can spend an afternoon attending workshops, meeting artists, or exploring Fayetteville’s cafés, breweries, and galleries as the surrounding mountains settle into winter.
Beyond outdoor recreation
For St. Amand, the residency’s biggest success wasn’t just that the workshops filled to capacity. It was who showed up.
She said the program drew neighbors and residents she rarely saw participating in the area’s outdoor recreation culture, yet they eagerly embraced opportunities to meet nationally recognized artists and attend creative events.
“People came out that I have not seen,” she said. “So many of my neighbors came to these events, and they loved them.”
That response reinforced a broader vision. Communities surrounding the New River Gorge have built an international reputation for whitewater rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking. Fayetteville Creates isn’t trying to replace that identity, organizers say, but to complement it by making creativity another reason to visit throughout the year.
“We would like to have branding as a creative hub,” St. Amand said. “Think about this as a winter festival, when everybody kind of goes dark and quiet. This is a time to get creative.”
Looking toward the future
This year’s residency also expands Fayetteville Creates’ partnerships across the community.
Organizers are seeking sponsors, donated lodging for visiting artists, and additional venues for January programming. Financial contributions are administered through the Fayette County Community Foundation, making donations tax-deductible.
If the program continues to grow, organizers hope January in Fayetteville will be known for more than the quiet between tourism seasons.
Communities across Appalachia have long relied on outdoor recreation to draw visitors. Fayetteville isn’t abandoning that identity. Instead, organizers hope to add another layer—one in which creativity becomes as much a part of the town’s character as the rivers, cliffs and forests that first made the New River Gorge famous.
Artists interested in applying for the January residency may submit applications from Aug. 15 to Oct. 31.