Statements
Mission
We are an independent, nonprofit advocacy group created to identify, unite, and promote arts, culture, and heritage throughout Rutherford County, Tennessee. Founded as a 501c3 in late 2018, our mission is to; Advocate for all aspects of our cultural community, promote Rutherford County as a cultural and heritage community and destination; Communicate the social and economic impact of the arts; Create opportunities for networking, collaboration, education, and economic success.
Background
At the Rutherford Arts Alliance, we owe our story to creative momentum that goes back decades in our community. But more recently, in 2017 the inaugural Murfreesboro Arts Laureates identified a need to better connect area creatives. This put in motion a series of meetings that led to the Alliance formation. By the latter half of 2018, more than 60 community volunteers-including artists, educators, and business, nonprofit and government representatives-were participating in these meetings and contributing to the vision for the Alliance.
Several volunteers contributed their experience with an earlier arts council effort, and we also benefited from the input and guidance of the Tennessee Arts Commission, MTSU Arts, MTSU Liberal Arts, graduate faculty of MTSU's Social Innovation and Not-for-Profit Management program, the Rutherford County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the City of Murfreesboro, Carpe Artista in Smyrna, the Discovery Center, the Center for the Arts, and others.
We take an expansive view of the arts, including visual, performance, literary, culture and heritage, and more. We want to connect people of all ages and have included a youth council in our charter.
Impact
When we first launched in late 2018, our executive committee spent many months dotting i's and crossing t's as we developed policies and established financial and operational best practices. Now, even through challenges including a pandemic and the (unrelated) untimely death of our founding chair, we're excited to look back at all we've accomplished, and how our work is becoming increasingly more visible in our communities. Our efforts have involved many enthusiastic artists and volunteer hours, and we are grateful to you all!
2019-2020 highlights
Organized a community mural project (featured in the DNJ and the Murfreesboro Post) and created guidelines for future murals
Organized a Young Creatives board who partnered with several organizations to create and install three Little Libraries, featured on Murfreesboro Arts Break
Partnered in the installation of an interactive weaving station and poetry installation at the Breezeway Restorative Trail at Gateway Island in Murfreesboro; partners included Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce / Visit Rutherford TN, Cultural Arts Murfreesboro, and The Better Boro project
Participated in the Tennesseans for the Arts Advocacy Day
Organized a juried art show in Murfreesboro
Participated in the Discovery Center's Tennessee STEAM Festival
Held 11 membership meetings at various sites in Rutherford County
Participated in fundraiser for RAA at The Alley on Main
Participated in the Greenway Arts Festival, featured in the Murfreesboro Voice, and the Taste of Rutherford 2019 fundraiser, featured in the DNJ
Launched campaign for #stayhomestayinspired with creative cheer projects during COVID-19
Offered workshops in art, photography, auditioning and writing
Spotlighted on social media an artist from a different area of the cultural arts each month
Partnered in the Leading Ladies of Rutherford County project, in conjunction with Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation
Created interest groups and recruited leaders for those groups, most of which are launching in summer 2020
Periodically met with representatives from Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau to ensure that our goals were aligned
Joined MTSU's Strategic Plan Workgroup
Secured two grants (under the direction of Ginny Togrye) for the HeART of Tennessee project and a mural project for 2020-21
plans for 2020-2021
Continue to support and promote the Leading Ladies project throughout the year
Hold member meetings each month, either virtually or in person, with the exception of December
Co-sponsor a virtual appearance of Elaine Weiss, author of The Woman's Hour; other sponsors will be the League of Women Voters, AAUW and MTLAW (this is separate from our virtual tea and book discussion planned for August)
Install the Heart of Tennessee sculpture in the Meditation Garden of the Gateway Island Breezeway
Secure artist to paint a mural recognizing the contributions of women to Rutherford County culture and heritage
Participate in the Greenway Arts Festival
Hold a juried art show at the Murfreesboro Rotunda (see this call for member artists)
Participate in the Discovery Center's Tennessee STEAM Festival
Sponsor a gala event during the opening weekend of Party of 12, the play that will culminate the Leading Ladies project
Needs
The Alliance is in motion 365 days (plus 1 when we Leap) to advance the creative culture of Rutherford County. Our biggest needs are participants - artists and creatives in all genres, anyone who wants to support our local arts, culture and heritage.
1. Join us
2. Support events and happenings
3. Volunteer with us
4. Share events and happenings
5. Enjoy the rich culture that we have in Rutherford County and help add to it with your words, finances, and deeds.
Board Chair Statement
"Connecting the creative individuals to the community in which they live, work and serve is what inspires a community of individuals to embrace the unique richness in their culture. Infusing imaginative efforts into the air that we all breathe releases tensions, encourages hope and provides a step to a freeing next day. The RAA is pushing and encouraging preset boundaries to be expanded, connecting daily living with imaginative play and world changing conversations through a less intimidating vessel - music notes, spoken words, paint on a page or gems on a wire. Let's start more conversations .... together." Susan Gulley, Chair 2021/2022/2023
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Arts, Culture & Humanities - Alliances & Advocacy |
| Secondary Category: | Arts, Culture & Humanities - Arts & Culture |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Eagleville, La Vergne, Lascassas, Christiana, Milton, Readyville, Rockvale and all of Rutherford County
| TN - Rutherford |
