{"id":28743,"date":"2024-11-15T16:46:32","date_gmt":"2024-11-15T21:46:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=28743"},"modified":"2024-11-15T16:46:32","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T21:46:32","slug":"center-for-the-arts-gala-highlights-to-potential-donors-the-value-and-needs-of-tusculum-universitys-arts-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2024\/center-for-the-arts-gala-highlights-to-potential-donors-the-value-and-needs-of-tusculum-universitys-arts-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Center for the Arts Gala highlights to potential donors the value and needs of Tusculum University&#8217;s arts programs"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 Donors learned about the positive impact of a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tusculum.edu\">Tusculum University<\/a> education, the strength of the institution\u2019s arts programs and possibilities to become even more robust during a festive gala held recently on campus.<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_28744\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28744\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28744\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-1-4-300x290.jpg\" alt=\"Rouja Green addresses the audience.\" width=\"300\" height=\"290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-1-4-300x290.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-1-4-1024x989.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-1-4-768x742.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-1-4-1536x1484.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-1-4-207x200.jpg 207w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-1-4-150x145.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-1-4-120x116.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-1-4-100x97.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-1-4-50x48.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-1-4.jpg 1656w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-28744\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rouja Green addresses the audience.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_28749\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28749\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28749\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-3-5-300x234.jpg\" alt=\"Central Ballet conducts a short performance at the gala.\" width=\"300\" height=\"234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-3-5-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-3-5-1024x798.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-3-5-768x598.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-3-5-1536x1196.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-3-5-257x200.jpg 257w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-3-5-150x117.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-3-5-120x93.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-3-5-100x78.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-3-5-50x39.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-3-5.jpg 1899w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-28749\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Central Ballet conducts a short performance at the gala.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The 2nd Center for the Arts Gala, held Tuesday, Nov. 12, brought donors to Tusculum\u2019s arts programs face-to-face with those who have directly benefited from this philanthropy. Through beneficial presentations, prepared by the various arts programs, guests at the gala learned about the important role the <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/center-for-the-arts\/\">Center for the Arts<\/a> plays in enriching personal lives and contributing to a greater quality of life in the community. The Center for the Arts is an umbrella for all arts programming at the university.<\/p>\n<p>Attendees also enjoyed an enchanting short performance by Central Ballet and were able to purchase beautiful works of art, all in an elegant setting.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were thrilled to invite our donors to the event and share all of the exciting developments and the impact Tusculum\u2019s arts programs have on our students and the community,\u201d said Rouja Green, director of the Center for the Arts, who created the gala and oversees it. \u201cWe enjoy connecting regularly with the community through our events and spreading the joy that the arts bring to all who encounter it. The community\u2019s investment in our students and our arts programs makes a profound impact, and we welcome the opportunity to continue fostering those relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Success stories from recent graduates<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of the key ways for donors to understand the impact of the Center for the Arts is through the testimony of former students who have graduated and are using their degrees in their jobs. Alumnae Gwen Gustafson, Patience Salisbury and Gracie Weems told their stories at the gala.<\/p>\n<p>Gustafson, who graduated in 2023 with a bachelor\u2019s degree in <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/art-and-design\/\">art and design<\/a>, with a concentration in visual communication design, said she owes a lot of her achievements to Tusculum because of the way the university prepared her to enter the job field immediately after graduation. She is now a full-time graphic designer at Artistic Printers in Greeneville, where she had previously interned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am very blessed to be able to have a job in the exact field that I studied,\u201d Gustafson said. \u201cI am thankful for Tusculum and how it allowed me to become familiar with this business and get my foot in the door long before I graduated. I am grateful to donors like you who have made the growth of these programs possible. I look forward to seeing the growth of Tusculum continuing.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_28746\" style=\"width: 216px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28746\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28746\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-6-2-206x300.jpg\" alt=\"Alumna Gwen Gustafson talks about the benefit of attending Tusculum.\" width=\"206\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-6-2-206x300.jpg 206w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-6-2-703x1024.jpg 703w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-6-2-768x1118.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-6-2-137x200.jpg 137w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-6-2-103x150.jpg 103w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-6-2-82x120.jpg 82w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-6-2-69x100.jpg 69w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-6-2-34x50.jpg 34w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-6-2.jpg 995w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-28746\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alumna Gwen Gustafson talks about the benefit of attending Tusculum.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_28747\" style=\"width: 245px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28747\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28747\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-7-1-235x300.jpg\" alt=\"Alumna Patience Salisbury discusses how studying at Tusculum helped her land her job.\" width=\"235\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-7-1-235x300.jpg 235w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-7-1-803x1024.jpg 803w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-7-1-768x979.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-7-1-157x200.jpg 157w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-7-1-118x150.jpg 118w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-7-1-94x120.jpg 94w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-7-1-78x100.jpg 78w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-7-1-39x50.jpg 39w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-7-1.jpg 1192w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 235px) 100vw, 235px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-28747\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alumna Patience Salisbury discusses how studying at Tusculum helped her land her job.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_28745\" style=\"width: 278px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28745\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28745\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-5-3-268x300.jpg\" alt=\"Alumna Gracie Weems shares her success story.\" width=\"268\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-5-3-268x300.jpg 268w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-5-3-915x1024.jpg 915w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-5-3-768x859.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-5-3-179x200.jpg 179w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-5-3-134x150.jpg 134w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-5-3-107x120.jpg 107w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-5-3-89x100.jpg 89w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-5-3-45x50.jpg 45w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-5-3.jpg 1312w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 268px) 100vw, 268px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-28745\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alumna Gracie Weems shares her success story.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Salisbury, who graduated from the art and design program in May, is thankful she pursued that degree because it helped her grow as a person and artist. Without that degree, she believes she would not have obtained her job at American Calendar Co. She has since obtained other positions at the company, including as a graphic designer, which will enable her to display the skills she developed at Tusculum.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlease know that the professional experience I gained at Tusculum was incredibly significant, and I am grateful to say that Tusculum is still making opportunities for me today,\u201d Salisbury said. \u201cI\u2019m so thankful for everything Tusculum\u2019s art department has done for me, and I\u2019m so inspired by the improvements the program continues to make. Thank you all for helping the department grow because I certainly would not be where I am without it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Weems obtained her bachelor\u2019s degree in arts outreach administration from Tusculum in 2023 and now serves as box office manager for the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. She called the faculty and staff of the Center for the Arts extraordinary and said they ignited a spark within her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe lessons I learned here went far beyond textbooks; they were about cultivating a mindset of possibility and passion,\u201d Weems said. \u201cTonight, I stand before you, filled with gratitude for everything this program has bestowed upon me. I implore you to truly listen to the stories you will hear tonight. Each one is a testament to the transformative power of believing in yourself and the importance of community support.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As part of the event, several faculty and staff members as well as students highlighted the success the programs have achieved and detailed their needs for continued success.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Creative writing<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_28750\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28750\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28750\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-11-1-300x217.jpg\" alt=\"Edward Roberts, vice president of institutional advancement, enjoys a photo with guests at the gala.\" width=\"300\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-11-1-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-11-1-1024x740.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-11-1-768x555.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-11-1-1536x1111.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-11-1-2048x1481.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-11-1-277x200.jpg 277w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-11-1-150x108.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-11-1-120x87.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-11-1-100x72.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-11-1-50x36.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-28750\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Edward Roberts, vice president of institutional advancement, enjoys a photo with guests at the gala.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Kelsey Trom, associate professor of <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/english-2\/\">English<\/a> and the Harriett Reaves Neff \u201921 Chair of Fine Arts, touted highly successful alumni such as Justin Phillip Reed, the 2018 winner of the National Book Award for poetry, and Anup Kaphle, whose career has included working at the Washington Post and BuzzFeed. She said today\u2019s students are intricately connected with the publications flowing from the creative writing program, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/ttr.tusculum.edu\/\">The Tusculum Review<\/a>, the university\u2019s international literary journal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur students witness and take part in everything we do,\u201d Trom said. \u201cLiterary journals all bring new writing to the world and foster future writing careers, but we do something else here: We train the next generation of editors, scholars and writers. Our students have the opportunity to work with the best in our field. Our student editors created four unique publications in the past year. No school in the region, and very few in the rest of the country, have undergraduate or graduate students doing this level of publishing work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She said the creative writing program would benefit from a new computer, printer and Adobe licensure \u2013 a total of about $2,000.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Art and design<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Juliana Ailyn Flores Martinez, a senior art and design major, focused on the need for her program to have all of the necessary materials and technology for their studies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour support tonight helps us grow as artists, designers, and people,\u201d Flores said. \u201cIt brings us a little closer to having the opportunities to experiment, learn and prepare for careers where we can truly make meaningful contributions. And just as importantly, it shows us that you believe in what we\u2019re trying to achieve\u2014that art and design have a place in the world and are worth investing in. So, thank you not only for your generosity but for being here and believing in what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Communication and debate<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_28751\" style=\"width: 307px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28751\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28751\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-4-4-297x300.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Kurtis Miller speaks to the audience.\" width=\"297\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-4-4-297x300.jpg 297w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-4-4-1015x1024.jpg 1015w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-4-4-768x775.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-4-4-1523x1536.jpg 1523w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-4-4-198x200.jpg 198w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-4-4-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-4-4-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-4-4-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-4-4.jpg 1529w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-28751\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Kurtis Miller speaks to the audience.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Cheyenne Hewitt, a sophomore <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/communication\/\">communication<\/a> major, with a theater concentration, represented the debate team and the communication academic program. She said the program offers a strong foundation in effective communication but also provides focus areas in theater and arts outreach administration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA communications major at Tusculum offers a comprehensive education in understanding and navigating our complex world of information and human connection,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat makes this program special is its flexibility. Students can choose a focus that aligns with their passions and career goals. I was raised in theater, so I am hoping to get my degree here and go on to edit and produce scripts, perhaps even for feature films.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Kurtis Miller, associate professor of communication and assistant dean of the Humanities Division, said financial backing for entry and costs for travel are items the debate team would welcome. The team has earned multiple awards in competitions in the last two years. Among the skills team participants develop are critical thinking, research and analysis, conflict management, interviewing skills and public speaking.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Music<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Tusculum offers classes in music and avenues for them to perform, particularly in the community band. Dr. Miller discussed how Tusculum\u2019s music program leads students to have a fulfilling life that encompasses art, expression and creativity. Needs for that program are replacement music stand racks, professional music holders, university-owned instruments, instrument maintenance and new music.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Theater<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_28753\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28753\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28753\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-9-1-300x270.jpg\" alt=\"Rouja Green, left, presents a benefactor certificate to Marilyn duBrisk, center, and her husband, Wess.\" width=\"300\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-9-1-300x270.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-9-1-1024x920.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-9-1-768x690.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-9-1-1536x1380.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-9-1-223x200.jpg 223w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-9-1-150x135.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-9-1-120x108.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-9-1-100x90.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-9-1-50x45.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-9-1.jpg 1567w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-28753\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rouja Green, left, presents a benefactor certificate to Marilyn duBrisk, center, and her husband, Wess.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_28752\" style=\"width: 307px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28752\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28752\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-8-1-297x300.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president, speaks to the audience.\" width=\"297\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-8-1-297x300.jpg 297w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-8-1-1015x1024.jpg 1015w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-8-1-768x775.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-8-1-1523x1536.jpg 1523w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-8-1-198x200.jpg 198w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-8-1-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-8-1-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-8-1-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/gala-8-1.jpg 1586w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-28752\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president, speaks to the audience.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In discussing Tusculum\u2019s theater program, senior Josie Norton described many benefits. She knows because she has been extremely active in Tusculum\u2019s theatrical performances on stage and behind the scenes and with the Tusculum Young Actors Studio in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe theater program at Tusculum has given me the opportunity to see theater, to go out and perform theater and to produce theater,\u201d she said. \u201cBut most importantly, the theater program has given me the invaluable experience to give back to my community. This program at Tusculum doesn\u2019t just fuel the hearts of a couple of students that come through it but also a community of brilliant actors, designers, electricians and teachers, doctors and many other crucial parts of the society.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Steve Schultz, director of <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/arts-outreach\/\">Tusculum Arts Outreach<\/a>, shared many elements of his program \u2013 the Young Actors Studio, the Costume Shop, \u201cEdgar Allan Poe and Other Stories in the Woods\u201d and other theatrical productions \u2013 both on campus and in the community. He said Arts Outreach has started offering adult theater classes and hopes to expand them.<\/p>\n<p>As he asked for additional funds and other support, he provided this nugget: The leading indicator for economic success in small communities is a thriving arts program.<\/p>\n<p>Among the initiatives for Arts Outreach that could utilize more community financial support are an after school arts and arts-related business program for grades 8 and higher; growth in music, visual art and creative writing with students; and reaffirmation of relationships with many community arts programs. Another idea is to explore a Tusculum Junior Choir and Junior Band and help other municipalities in the region grow their theater programs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Supporting the arts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Miller, who also serves as executive director of the Center for the Arts, and Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president, expressed appreciation for the community\u2019s support of the arts. In closing the event, Dr. Miller encouraged people to donate on a monthly basis to help the university\u2019s budgeting process. He said a solid donation to Tusculum each month is cheaper than what it costs for a Netflix subscription.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are delighted to offer many programs for free or very reasonable charges, but the cost to hold these events exceeds that revenue,\u201d Dr. Miller said. \u201cWe encourage the community to be a partner and support the Center for the Arts financially so we can continue to make these vibrant programs available.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about the Center for the Arts, please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/center-for-the-arts\/\">https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/center-for-the-arts\/<\/a>. People can also email Green at <a href=\"mailto:rgreen@tusculum.edu\">rgreen@tusculum.edu<\/a> or call 423-636-7300, extension 8326. Donations can be made at <a href=\"https:\/\/ssl.charityweb.net\/tusculum\/\">https:\/\/ssl.charityweb.net\/tusculum\/<\/a>. More details about the university are available at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tusculum.edu\">www.tusculum.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><h3><strong>GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 Donors learned about the positive impact of a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tusculum.edu\">Tusculum University<\/a> education, the strength of the institution\u2019s arts programs and possibilities to become even more robust during a festive gala held recently on campus.<\/h3>\n<p>The 2nd Center for the Arts Gala, held Tuesday, Nov. 12, brought donors to Tusculum\u2019s arts programs face-to-face with those who have directly benefited from this philanthropy. Through beneficial presentations, prepared by the various arts programs, guests at the gala learned about the important role the <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/center-for-the-arts\/\">Center for the Arts<\/a> plays in enriching personal lives and contributing to a greater quality of life in the community. The Center for the Arts is an umbrella for all arts programming at the university.<\/p>\n<p>Attendees also enjoyed an enchanting short performance by Central Ballet and were able to purchase beautiful works of art, all in an elegant setting.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2024\/center-for-the-arts-gala-highlights-to-potential-donors-the-value-and-needs-of-tusculum-universitys-arts-programs\/\"> Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[131,91,7,19,169,1,6,172],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Center for the Arts Gala highlights to potential donors the value and needs of Tusculum University&#039;s arts programs :: Tusculum University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2024\/center-for-the-arts-gala-highlights-to-potential-donors-the-value-and-needs-of-tusculum-universitys-arts-programs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Center for the Arts Gala highlights to potential donors the value and needs of Tusculum University&#039;s arts programs :: Tusculum University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"GREENEVILLE \u2013 Donors learned about the positive impact of a Tusculum University education, the strength of the institution\u2019s arts programs and possibilities to become even more robust during a festive gala held recently on campus. The 2nd Center for the Arts Gala, held Tuesday, Nov. 12, brought donors to Tusculum\u2019s arts programs face-to-face with those who have directly benefited from this philanthropy. Through beneficial presentations, prepared by the various arts programs, guests at the gala learned about the important role the Center for the Arts plays in enriching personal lives and contributing to a greater quality of life in the community. The Center for the Arts is an umbrella for all arts programming at the university. Attendees also enjoyed an enchanting short performance by Central Ballet and were able to purchase beautiful works of art, all in an elegant setting. 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