Art provides many benefits, including developing creativity, critical thinking and motor skills, as well as improving academic performance, building self-esteem, learning collaboration, building communities, and promoting well-being. It can also be an economic driver in a community. Two organizations in Cheatham County have a mission of providing arts experiences to children and adults: the Art League of Cheatham County and The Arts Alliance.
The Art League of Cheatham County, located in Ashland City, was established in 2019 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to enhance the community by empowering local artists, inspiring creativity, and providing enriching cultural experiences for everyone. They offer activities and events including an annual juried art show, live demonstrations, a book club, and a fall Community Arts Festival offering a craft marketplace.
The Art Alliance, located in Pleasant View, serves that city, as well as Ashland City, Coopertown, Sango and surrounding communities. It was founded by Holly Brown in 2018. The organization provides primarily youth classes in dance, yoga, tumbling, theater, fine art, voice, and music.
“We hope to give kids a taste of a little bit of all of the arts disciplines, so everything from dance and tumbling to music and art in theater,” Brown told WKRN. “Obviously we’re in a very rural area. There’s not a ton of arts funding in our public schools here, and we like to be able to provide extracurricular activities for students in the area so that they do get that extra arts curriculum to supplement their regular school day.”
With few creative outlets in the area, these two organizations hope to inspire local artists and develop youthful passions, including those in acting, dancing, painting, guitar, singing, and more. With schools providing fewer opportunities for those who are creative, these two organizations are a place where kids with like interest can come to find friends while exploring their interest in a safe environment. There are also classes for home schooled students.
According to the Tennessee Arts Commission website, “the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study provides compelling evidence that nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $1.17 billion industry in the State of Tennessee…generating $135.9 million in local and state government revenue.”
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