This ethnographic study examines the process of cultural colonialism and the effects of cultural colonialist institutions in West Virginia on the mountain culture arts and artists. Interviews, observations, written material, and video recordings were used to substantiate interviews with artists and institutional administrators. Interpretation of local art forms by outsiders and issues of understanding, presentation, and stereotyping of local culture and artists were examined. Conflict and contradiction was found. The concluding chapter looks at the decolonialization process undertaken by participating artists. (NP)