Founded in 1969 as a united arts fund, ArtsBuild is a Chattanooga nonprofit located in the heart of the Innovation District with the mission of building a stronger community through the arts.
“At ArtsBuild, we believe fully in the intersection between art and innovation, and that intersection is creativity. One cannot embrace innovation without creative, out-of-the-box thinking,” says Julie Jackson, Director of Development and Communications for ArtsBuild.
“ArtsBuild is funded by contributions from many individuals, corporations, and foundations. It also receives annual funding from the City of Chattanooga and the Tennessee Arts Commission,” says Jackson.
ArtsBuild provides annual support to 12 local cultural partner organizations. According to a national study in which ArtsBuild participated, nonprofit arts and culture organizations impact the local economy through:
- $106 million in annual economic activity
- 3,880 full time equivalent jobs supported by the arts
- 2.2 million attendees at arts and culture-related events
- $12 million returned in state and local government revenue
Since 2012, ArtsBuild has run the grant initiative Community Cultural Connections (CCC), a program whose goals include providing arts and cultural experiences to diverse audiences, broadening community support for established and emerging arts organizations, and exemplifying the economic impact of arts and culture. So far, 100 grants totalling $200,000 have been awarded to 58 organizations with 90% of the benefits going to low income individuals.
“ArtsBuild is expanding its grant programs beginning in 2017 to provide even more arts and cultural organizations the opportunity to receive funding. Our goal is to touch as large—and diverse—a population in our community as possible with the power of creativity,” says Jackson.
Another incredible ArtsBuild project is the Imagine! Initiative, which provides Hamilton County Elementary School Students in grades one through four with an introduction and exposure to the arts through professional performances. Through public and private donations, ArtsBuild is able to cover the students’ tickets, transportation, and pre- and post-performance curriculum for an event at Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Chattanooga Ballet, and another arts and culture venues. With the help of a generous donation, ArtsBuild will be adding Kindergarten to the Imagine! Initiative in the 2017-2018 school year.
ArtsBuild also provides professional development for Hamilton County teachers through the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Partners in Education Program, which helps teachers integrate arts into all classroom subjects.
In 2015, ArtsBuild opened the Arts Building in Chattanooga’s Innovation District. Located on E. 11th Street, the Arts Building houses ArtsBuild, Townsend Atelier, Scenic City Clay Arts, Southern Lit Alliance, and SoundCorps.
Townsend Atelier is dedicated to providing quality art instruction in a wide variety of media and offers several classes and workshops perfect for both beginners and advanced artists. Upcoming workshops include, Drawing Essentials, Still Life Painting Bootcamp, and Art Babies.
Scenic City Clay Arts is a community-run ceramics studio in the basement of the Arts Building. Their mission is to sustain the art and craft of all things clay through education, practice and an affordable workspace. Open studio space is available and classes and workshops are held year-round. Classes include beginner, intermediate, advanced, children, and firing only.
Southern Lit Alliance is a literary arts organization focused on connecting individuals and communities with the uplifting power of literary arts. Their programs include Theatre Express!, Young Southern Student Writers, Writers in Classrooms, Inkwell Writing Workshops, and Reading Groups at the Bradley County Jail.
SoundCorps is a nonprofit dedicated to growing the music economy in the Chattanooga region. SoundCorps offers several programs and events (and an awesome online directory to Chattanooga’s vibrant music community) to support the local music industry infrastructure.
For more information on ArtsBuild or to get involved with the programs, visit the ArtsBuild website.
