Willow Oak Center for Arts & Learning at Robertson County
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615-380-8071
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301 5th Ave W PO Box 236
Springfield, TN 37172
Organization Details

Executive Director


Executive Director Mrs Muzetta Miller
E-mail muzettaswannmiller@gmail.com
Term Start August 2008
Muzetta's Experience: Muzetta Swann Miller, Executive Director and Founder, received a Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance from Belmont University in 2006. She earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance with a minor in piano from Westminster Choir College in 1982. As recitalist, she has performed in New York, New Jersey, Kentucky and Tennessee. As a member of the world-renowned Westminster Choir, she performed with Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic, among others, at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. She was a member of the chorus-in-residence at the Spoleto Festival USA, Charleston, SC, and the Festival dei Due Mondi, Spoleto, Italy. As an arts administrator, she was employed by the New York City Opera under General Manager Beverly Sills. Ms. Miller was employed with the Nashville Symphony where she worked as an assistant to the orchestra manager. Ms. Miller taught K-8 music at the Westminster School, Nashville, a school for students with learning disabilities. She has served as music director, organist and pianist at numerous churches in Robertson County. She was a paid singer at Saint George's Episcopal and First Presbyterian Churches, Nashville, Minister of Music at Central Christian Church, Springfield, and is pianist at 5th Avenue Uniting Church. From 1989-1999, she taught and served on the Board of Directors at Sound Health Alternatives, Nashville, a school for alternative healing. Ms. Miller has taught voice and piano in Springfield since 1989. She has conducted Handel's Messiah with the Robertson County Choral Society. As a recording session artist, she sang back-up with Michael W. Smith in 2007. As an adjunct professor at Volunteer State Community College, she taught voice and music appreciation. In June 2007, Ms. Miller founded Willow Oak Center for Arts & Learning where she is Executive Director.

Senior Staff


Name Title
Muzetta Miller Executive Director/Founder

Staff

Full Time Staff 5
Part Time Staff 2
Volunteers 30
Contractors 3
Retention Rate 100%

Plans & Policies

Does your organization have a Fundraising Plan? Under Development
Does your organization have a Strategic Plan? Yes
Years Strategic Plan Considers 5
When was the Strategic Plan adopted? April 2022
Does your organization have a Management Succession Plan? Under Development
Does your organization have a Policy and Procedure Plan? Under Development
Does the organization have a Nondiscrimination Policy? Yes
Does the organization have a Whistle Blower Policy? No
Does the organization have a Document Destruction Policy? No

Evaluation

Is there a formal evaluation for... Frequency (if applicable)
CEO/Executive Director No N/A
Senior Management No N/A
Non-Management Yes Annually

Affiliations

Affiliation Year
Center for Nonprofit Management 2019
Center for Nonprofit Management 2020
Center for Nonprofit Management 2021
Center for Nonprofit Management 2022
Center for Nonprofit Management 2023
Center for Nonprofit Management (Nashville) 2018
Center for Nonprofit Management Excellence Network 2010
Center for Nonprofit Management Excellence Network 2017
Robertson County Chamber 2022
Robertson County Chamber 2023
Robertson County Chamber of Commerce 2018
Robertson County Chamber of Commerce 2007
Robertson County Chamber of Commerce 2017
Robertson County Chamber of Commerce 2019
Robertson County Chamber of Commerce 2020
Robertson County Chamber of Commerce 2021
Robertson County Economic Development Board 2022
Robertson County Economic Development Board 2023
Robertson County Economic Development Board 2021
Tennesseans for the Arts 2018
Tennesseans for the Arts 2010
Tennesseans for the Arts 2017
Tennesseans for the Arts 2019
Tennesseans for the Arts 2020
Tennesseans for the Arts 2021
Tennesseans for the Arts 2022
Tennesseans for the Arts 2023
Tennessee Arts Commission 2018
Tennessee Arts Commission 2019
Tennessee Arts Commission 2015
Tennessee Arts Commission 2017
Tennessee Arts Commission 2020
Tennessee Arts Commission 2021
Tennessee Arts Commission 2022
Tennessee Arts Commission 2023
United Way Member Agency 2012
United Way of Greater Nashville 2020
White House Chamber 2022
White House Chamber 2023
White House Chamber of Commerce 2017
White House Chamber of Commerce 2018
White House Chamber of Commerce 2016

Awards


Award / Recognition Organization Year
$1,500 Program support US Bank Foundation 2016
$10,000 Challenge Gift Virginia Sory Brown 2010
$12,500 Gift designated for rent & operating support Jacquelyn D. Guthrie Foundation 2016
$15,000 grant for start-up costs Stokes & Sarah Brown Charitable Foundation 2007
$2,000 grant United Way 2012
$2,500 for program support US Bank Foundation 2018
$2,500 for program support US Bank Foundation 2017
$2,600 Arts Build Communities Grant Tennessee Arts Commission 2009
$2,800 Arts Build Communities Grant Tennessee Arts Commission 2010
$30,000 grant for Executive Director's salary Stokes & Sarah Brown Charitable Foundation 2013
$30,000 grant for Executive Director's salary Stokes & Sarah Brown Charitable Foundation 2012
$3000 Arts Build Communities Grant Tennessee Arts Commission 2011
$4,680 Rural Arts Project Support Grant for Multicultural Arts Festival Tennessee Arts Commission 2016
$45,000 grant Stokes & Sarah Brown Charitable Foundation 2017
$45,000 grant Stokes & Sarah Brown Charitable Foundation 2018
$45,000 grant Stokes & Sarah Brown Charitable Foundation 2015
$45,000 grant Stokes & Sarah Brown Charitable Foundation 2016
$5,000 Designated Grant Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee 2012
$5,000 grant for Artistic Director's salary Mr. & Mrs. Ronnie Hollingsworth 2013
$5,000 Operational Support Memorial Foundation 2011
$50,000 grant Stokes & Sarah Brown Charitable Foundation 2014
$6,600 Rural Arts Project Support Grant for Multicultural Arts Festival Tennessee Arts Commission 2017
$7,650 Rural Arts Project Support Grant for Multicultural Arts Festival Tennessee Arts Commission 2018
$8,000 designated for rent Jacquelyn D. Guthrie Foundation 2018
$8,000 designated for rent Jacquelyn D. Guthrie Foundation 2017
$8,000 Gift designated for rent Jacquelyn D. Guthrie Foundation 2012
$8,000 Gift designated for rent Jacquelyn D. Guthrie Foundation 2013
$8,000 Gift designated for rent Jacquelyn D. Guthrie Foundation 2014
$8,000 Gift designated for rent; $4,000 Executive Director Continuing Education Jacquelyn D. Guthrie Foundation 2015
Arts Education - Community Learning Grant Tennessee Arts Commission 2015
'Best Arts Studio' Main Street Awards (The Connection) 2018
Charitable organization recipient in 2018 $1,400 Robertson County Association of Realtors 2018
Designated Gift Jacquelyn D. Guthrie Foundation 2011
In-kind donations for annual fundraisers Tammy & Bentley Parrish 2016
Rural Arts Project Support Grant Tennessee Arts Commission 2015
$50,000 grant Stokes & Sarah Brown Charitable Foundation 2019
$50,000 grant Stokes & Sarah Brown Charitable Foundation 2020
$50,000 grant Stokes & Sarah Brown Charitable Foundation 2021
$8,000 grant for rent Jacquelyn D. Guthrie Foundation 2019
$8,000 grant for rent Jacquelyn D. Guthrie Foundation 2020
$8,000 grant for rent Jacquelyn D. Guthrie Foundation 2021
$20,000 grant 3M Foundation 2019
$9,000 donation Realtors Association of Robertson County 2021

CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments


Willow Oak Center for Arts & Learning was gifted a 9,500 sq. ft. church building by Central Christian Church in December 2022. Moving from a 2,000 sq. ft. facility to one with over four times the space provides an extraordinary opportunity to expand our offerings to the community. It allows us to offer more classes and workshops, expand our music and theatre program, and offer concerts and events for the public in the Roger Bunch Concert and Event Hall. Our opportunity as well as our challenge is to use the building to its fullest capability by having simultaneous classes, workshops, and events taking place on a daily basis.
With a larger space comes the need for increased personnel to schedule additional classes/workshops, musical events, theatrical performances, artist talks and exhibits, lectures, and roundtable discussions. Additional personnel is needed to maintain the facility and oversee security.
With increased monetary needs, fundraising is now a focus. In addition to increasing general operating funds, there are repairs needed in the building: the 40-year-old roof needs to be replaced, and all 37 windows have deteriorated and need replacing.
Willow Oak has gone from a 2,000 sq. ft facility with only two classrooms, to a 9,500 sq. ft. building with multiple classrooms, a kitchen for culinary classes, and an event hall.
It is vital that we focus on donor relations, cultivating additional individual and corporate donors while encouraging current donors to increase their gifts. Grant research and proposals are an additional focus to fund events such as ArtFest and Art in the Park, the performing arts programs, and classes and workshops.
Willow Oak has not had a development director. In August 2023, the Financial and Volunteer Coordinator transitioned to the new position of Assistant Executive Director. This person will take on most of the day-to-day duties of the Executive Director. This allows the Executive Director to focus on development and grant writing.