Venus & Vance: A Virtual Appalachian Christmas Carol

This two-act piece begins with a viewing of the annual Appalachian Christmas Carol, which follows the story of Venus–an enslaved woman that lived on the Vance plantation–and concludes with a panel discussion on the complicated legacy of Zebulon Vance, our collective histories, how we interpret them, and the role of museums and historic sites.

The program will run for three nights, Saturday, December 5^th, Thursday, December 10^th, and Saturday, December 12^th. This live program will begin each evening at 7:00 pm on Zoom and run until 8:30 pm. Watch with the entire family from the comfort of your own home. The Saturday shows are $12.00. Thursday showing is “pay what you can.”  Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. 

Register for Saturday, December 12

Act I – An Appalachian Christmas Carol – The Vance Birthplace will once again partner with the American Myth Center to present one of the greatest Christmas stories ever told, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Through the use of shadow theatre and moving panoramas the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future lead Zebulon in an exploration of the life of Venus, a woman enslaved by the Vances. For approximately 25 minutes, visitors will go on an illuminating journey through some of the history of the Vance Birthplace, and conclude by virtually stepping into a 1790s slave dwelling.

Act II – It’s Not a White Christmas – The second “act” will feature a panel discussion with historians and community members about how museums and historic sites interpret slavery. Speakers will be asked to reflect on the first act and think about the complicated legacy of Zebulon Vance and lives of the enslaved people. How can historic sites and museums be a tool to cultivate conversation and continue to grow and broaden the narrative? This discussion will focus on Appalachian history, but also serve as a conduit for healing dialogue, and sparking continued discussion around compassion and how we can create empathy.

Pre-Visit Materials – Upon registering, guests will receive a virtual “program” giving background on the story of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the history behind the characters portrayed in the play and background on the art form known as “crankies.”
 
 Panel Discussion – It’s Not a White Christmas: Reclaiming Historical Narratives and Creating Empathy
Note: Speakers will vary from night to night. Questions from the audience will be submitted through the Q&A window on Zoom, grouped by the moderator, and presented to the speakers. We will make every effort to get to as many questions as possible before 8:30.

Saturday, December 12^th

• Steve Nash, Associate Professor of History, East Tennessee State University, Author of Reconstruction’s Ragged Edge: The Politics of Postwar Life in the Southern Mountains, Winner of the Appalachian Studies Association’s Weatherford Award.
• Sasha Mitchell, Operations Manager, Dogwood Alliance, Editor of Color of Asheville, www.colorofasheville.net, a community outreach and networking site including approximately 100 black-owned business in Western North Carolina.
• Joseph McGill, Founder, Slave Dwelling Project