FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIREC TOR
C U LT I VAT I N G THE ARTS IN TENNESSEE BY A N N E B . POPE While it seemed as though spring took a long time to arrive, our spring schedule launched right on time. We are currently reviewing grant applications and preparing allocations for the next fiscal year. We are also working on our 20142019 Strategic Plan. For the past 18 months in preparation for our new strategic plan, the Arts Commission has gathered information statewide. We have listened to our constituents, legislators, local officials, community leaders and Governor Haslam, among others. We conducted four strategic planning public meetings held in Gray, Chattanooga, Nashville and Memphis, which you can read a summary of written by our panel moderator, Ann Coulter, on page 6. With all of this information, we have now identified our goals and objectives for the first draft. We are very fortunate to have Kelly Barsdate, Chief Program and Planning Officer from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) facilitate this process. A draft of the plan will be available for public comment sometime this summer. I am so pleased to welcome our two new Commission members, Jan Ramsey of Chattanooga and Leo McGee of Cookeville. We are thankful to have such a committed and energetic board whose support for the arts in Tennessee is truly inspirational. Each member of the Commission brings significant experience and a valuable perspective. Lastly, I want to congratulate Anita Norman from Arlington, TN, who recently won the 2014 Poetry Out Loud National Competition. Anita is the first Tennessean to win the national finals. She will be representing Tennessee on the national stage as the Poetry Out Loud ambassador for the next year. You can read more about her on p.10.
CONTENTS
Commission News.................................................................................................. 1 The Kingsport Carousel, A Dream Realized.............................................................. 4 Tennessee Arts Commission Strategic Planning Public Meetings Report.................. 6 Anita Norman Wins National Poetry Out Loud Competition..................................... 10 Students Shine at The Poetry Out Loud State Competition..................................... 12 Six Characteristics to Successful Arts and Rural Economic Development Efforts.... 16
COMMISSION MEMBERS Rhea Condra, Gallatin – Chair
Lanis “Lanny” Cope, Knoxville – Vice Chair Patsy White Camp, Jackson – Secretary Lisa Bobango, Germantown Ritche Bowden, Memphis Donna Chase, Knoxville Stephanie Barger Conner, Nashville Ed Gerace, Johnson City Waymon L. Hickman, Columbia Chancellor Carol L. McCoy, Nashville Dr. Leo McGee, Cookeville Jan Ramsey, Chattanooga Ann Smith, Johnson City Connie S. Weathers, Chattanooga Lee D. Yeiser, Savannah
STAFF
Anne B. Pope, Executive Director Carol White, Associate Director of Operations Hal Partlow, Associate Director of Grants Suzanne Lynch, Director of Marketing and Development Lee Baird, Grants Monitor and Literary Arts Director Ann Talbott Brown, Director of Arts Education Mike Chambers, IT Director Dr. Robert Cogswell, Director of Folklife William Coleman, Director of Arts Access Dr. Dana Everts-Boehm, Folklife Program Assistant Clare Fernandez, Executive Administrative Assistant Shannon Ford, Director of Community Arts Development Michelle McEwen, Accounting Technician Vickie McPherson, Administrative Service Assistant Jared Morrison, Director of Performing Arts Diane Williams, Director of Grants Management James Wells, Arts Education Projects Coordinator Nan Zierden, Director of Visual Arts, Craft, Media & Design Arts Tennessee is the news magazine of the Tennessee Arts Commission and is published quarterly. ON THE COVER:
Kingsport Carousel’s Unicorn. See cover story on page 4 Photo courtesty of Kingsport Arts