Statements
Mission
TPAC champions excellence in the performing arts and arts education, fosters support for our resident companies and community partners, and serves as an inclusive place for all to enjoy meaningful and relevant experiences that enrich lives and promote economic vitality.
Background
TPAC History: Over 40 years ago, a group of community leaders headed by Martha Ingram had a vision for Tennessee. They wanted a place that would be the heart and soul for the performing arts so their children and grandchildren could enjoy the same opportunities as children in other metropolitan communities. Because of their vision, a unique partnership between the private and public sectors began. In July 1974, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to begin construction of a multi-purpose building that would house the three theaters of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC), the Tennessee State Museum, and an office tower for the State of Tennessee. When it opened in 1980, the Nashville Symphony and Circle Players were its only resident artistic companies. Within five years, Nashville Opera sprang out from under the symphony's umbrella and became its own organization. The Nashville Ballet became a professional ballet company in the mid-1980s and began performing at TPAC as a resident company. In 1982-83 two new entities were born: Tennessee Repertory Theatre and TPAC's statewide educational program, Humanities Outreach in Tennessee. As a result of an operational merger with the Nashville Institute for the Arts in 2000, TPAC's education program expanded further and now includes: the Season for Young People with extensive teacher materials and training opportunities; Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts which uses the arts to teach critical early skills to preschoolers age 3-5, in Head Start centers; Disney Musicals in Schools, a semester-long afterschool musical theatre program in Metro Nashville Public Schools; InsideOut for adults seeking personal growth and enrichment through aesthetic education, and The Spotlight Awards, recognizing the best in high school musical theatre from across our region. Our goals each year are accomplished by choosing curriculum-oriented dance, music, and theatre productions. These professional presentations introduce students to live performances and extend their knowledge of the arts and the world in which they live. TPAC education programs also provide professional development for teachers; sends professional teaching artists into classrooms to work beside teachers and students; and generates powerful learning experiences for students of all ages.
Impact
TPAC serves nearly 435,000 Tennessee residents and visitors each season through live performances and educational activities. Nearly 90% of those served experience TPAC through ticketed performances and special engagements. Overall, according to the most recently released Arts and Economic Prosperity Report, TPAC and our resident companies contribute nearly $53M in direct spending and more than $47M in indirect revenue to our community. TPAC education programs and outreach initiatives annually reach more than 35,000 Pre-K-12th grade students and adult learners from 20+ counties statewide. Collectively, TPAC education programs engage high percentages of students representing underserved populations, including students of color, students with disabilities, and English language learners. Nearly 80% of students and teachers attending Season for Young People performances are from Tennessee public schools, with 41% from Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) specifically, where the majority of students are from low-income families.
Needs
School studies indicate that students who take part in the arts and in arts-in-education programs perform better academically, achieve higher scores on college entrance exams, demonstrate improved thinking, greater productivity, improved school attendance, increased self-esteem, and improved personal development. These are results that all school boards, parents, and teachers desire for the children in their care. Teachers routinely report the value of using the performing arts as a learning and discovery tool and the positive impact programs have on their students educational experiences. Adult learners report that participating in education activities helps to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of a work of art and creates connections to the larger community. TPAC is proud to play a significant role in spreading the extensive benefits of the arts and arts education programs to the more than 1.8 million young lives it has now touched.
CEO Statement
Tennessee Performing Arts Center gives Tennessee citizens the same opportunities in the performing arts and cultural heritage available to people living in major cities nationwide, introducing students to the worlds of theatre, ballet, music and opera, to enhance their education, inspire their imagination, and enrich their lives. More than 35,000 students and teachers participate in programs of TPAC Education each year. TPAC programs are directed toward developing our greatest resource - children - in ways that enable them to grow as citizens who engage in life-long learning, who embrace the diversity of the world we live in, and who comprehend and value artistic expression. As these children become adults, they will contribute greatly to the economic and cultural achievements of our community, state, and nation. TPAC has one of the leading arts education programs in the United States associated with a performing arts center. For the general public, TPAC presents more than 600 performances each year. Roughly 435,000 tickets are sold annually to performances presented by the resident groups and TPAC. Nashville is now a major market for Broadway tours, while TPAC also presents special engagements of artistic relevance and popular acclaim. For some, TPAC is a dream come true, a source of "food for the soul." For others, TPAC is good for the economy - attracting industry, creating jobs, increasing business downtown, generating tax revenues. TPAC invites you to take part in the ongoing story of growth, success and service to the citizens of Tennessee.
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| Primary Category: | Arts, Culture & Humanities - Performing Arts Centers |
| Secondary Category: | Education - |
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Areas Served
TPAC serves nearly 435k Tennessee residents and visitors each year through live performances and educational programs. Nearly 90% of patrons experience TPAC through ticketed performances and special engagements. The majority of these ticket buyers reside in the Metro Nashville region; however, thousands of visitors from all corners of the state and beyond visit TPAC each season. In addition, TPAC education programs annually reach 35k students and teachers from counties in Tennessee and Kentucky.
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