GREENEVILLE – Celebrate the achievements of Tusculum University’s diverse and robust arts programs and learn what more is in store during an upcoming gala at the higher education institution.
Left to right, Gracie Weems, Rouja Green and Patience Salisbury played major roles in the 2023 gala.
The 2nd Annual Tusculum University Center for the Arts Gala will take place Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Chalmers Conference Center, which is located inside the Scott M. Niswonger Commons. This elegant event begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature a delicious meal, entertainment and recognition of those who have financially backed the university’s arts programming.
“We encourage everyone to join us for a majestic evening, which will blend fun and relaxation with valuable information about our offerings,” said Rouja Green, director of the Center for the Arts. “Our programming enriches personal lives and contributes significantly to the community’s qualify of life and growth of the arts. We welcome the opportunity to share the breadth and depth of our arts initiatives and additional opportunities for the community to partner with us.”
Those who have donated at least $2,500 to the Tusculum Center for the Arts in the last year have been invited to attend the gala for free. Others who make a donation of at least $80 for the gala will also be included in the guest list and can bring someone with them for free. To make that donation, please visit https://bit.ly/3AcGbRi. The deadline is Monday, Nov. 4.
“We hope that when people come and see what we do for the community and the students and how much we offer to Greeneville and the surrounding area for free, they will make a much larger donation to support our programs,” Green said.
Left to right, Wess duBrisk, Marilyn duBrisk and Clem Allison came to the 2023 gala.
The Center for the Arts is the umbrella for all arts programs at Tusculum. It encompasses everything from well-known arts programs, such as theater and music, to others, such as creative writing, arts outreach and the costume shop as well as the communication and art and design academic programs.
The Center for the Arts launched the gala in 2023. This year, the Center for the Arts moved the gala from Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center to Chalmers to accommodate more attendees and foster more mingling between donors, students and faculty and staff members as they participate in the event.
Returning to this year’s gala will be presentations from all of the programs that fall under the Center for the Arts – theater, art and design, music, communication, Tusculum Arts Outreach, and The Tusculum Review, which is the university’s international literary journal. The presenters will be faculty and staff members and students associated with these programs. In addition, Green will talk about the Center for the Arts.
These presentations will detail the many accomplishments within these programs in the last year thanks to donations. They will highlight the program’s goals and aspirations for the future that can be realized through further financial support. Students in Tusculum’s visual communications program are developing a video that will provide additional evidence of the exciting events, activities and coursework happening at the Center for the Arts.
Tusculum students Josie Norton, left, and Todd Wallin participated in the 2023 gala.
The gala will feature donor recognition through a slide show with photos of the individuals and the level at which they have contributed. This element of the evening will provide a formal opportunity for the Center for the Arts to thank these donors.
Remarks from various speakers will give attendees further insight into the value of the Center for the Arts and its programs. Among the speakers will be Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president; Dr. Kurtis Miller, executive director of the Center for the Arts; and Marilyn duBrisk, who retired from Tusculum in 2020 as the university’s artist-in-residence.
Alumnae Gracie Weems, Gwen Gustafson and Patience Salisbury, who graduated from Tusculum in the last year and have landed jobs within their academic field, are scheduled to share their story. They will highlight what they have attained in their careers thanks to their Tusculum education.
The gala will again hold an auction of impressive pieces of art.
“Proceeds from the gala are essential to ensure the continuity and high standards of our arts programming,” Dr. Hummel said. “Tusculum has been blessed to develop an outstanding array of arts programs that have benefited the community and the Tusculum family. However, these programs carry costs, and financial support from individuals and businesses will enable the arts to remain a vibrant part of our community for a long time.”
Steve Schultz, left, and Erin Hensley Schultz presented at the 2023 gala.
The idea for the gala originated in a Learning in the Arts class Green taught. She and her students were seeking to pursue a project that would increase the community’s connection with the Center for the Arts and its programs. In addition to highlighting the university’s commitment to civic engagement, the gala represented a new avenue for the Center for the Arts to continue fundraising efforts to ensure the long-term strength of the arts programs.
The event was exciting for students because they were able to dress in special attire and honor their part in making the Center for the Arts a lively place for high-quality entertainment and community engagement. Salisbury and Weems, who were students in Green’s class, were integral in planning the event and executing many of the details. Even though she has graduated, Salisbury feels a strong connection and commitment to the gala, so she is volunteering by designing all of the promotional materials for this year’s event.
Anyone with questions about the gala can email Green at rgreen@tusculum.edu or call 423 787-8326. To learn more about the Center for the Arts, please visit https://site.tusculum.edu/center-for-the-arts/. Additional information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.