It’s no secret the tri-state area is home to rich American history. Appalachia as a whole is known for its own brand of history, music and art.

Cumberland Gap is a piece of that heritage.

On Aug. 15, the Cumberland Gap Artists Co-Op will be hosting a fundraiser to create an art gallery space that showcases Appalachian art as well as teach after school children about art in an economically depressed area.

The funds raised will help renovate an old building and turn it into an art gallery.

For those not in the know, the Cumberland Gap Artists Co-op is non-profit and their goal is to showcase arts and crafts from local Appalachian artists in the tri-states. The co-op holds workshops that teach a variety of styles and methods such as painting, carving, quilting, pottery, photography, etc.

The co-op also sells the arts and crafts by the local artists in the gallery itself as well as online. They also offer after school classes for local children and the supplies are provided.

The fundraiser will begin at 10 a.m. at the co-op located in the historic Cumberland Gap. The address is 521 Cowlyn Avenue.

The fundraiser is not a one-and-done event, either. It will run throughout the rest of August, the entire month of September and into October.

For a list of all of the dates, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/222511285073764.