Muse ArtsBuild Donor Newsletter October 2022

OF DIRECTORS

Marcus McKamey, Board Chair

Rowena Belcher, Vice Chair

Edna Varner, Treasurer

Sybil Topel, Secretary Andrea Becksvoort

John Beder Nicole Brown

Carmen Davis Olga de Klein

Isaac Duncan III Patti Frierson Jeannine Grogg

STAFF

James McKissic, President

Sallie Lawrence, Director of Finance

Kathryn Wroth, Director of Development

Caroline Bulman, Development Manager

Kristy Huntley Vanessa Jackson Quincy Jenkins Bryan Kelly Jill Levine

Alex Loza

Dear ArtsBuild Donors,

More arts in more places for more people—it’s a lofty vision and something I think about each day in my role here at ArtsBuild. I know that the arts hold a magical, transformational power for people and communities, and it’s not just something I’ve heard. I have lived it and witnessed it with my own eyes. The arts are vital to our city. As we put the last couple of years of shutdowns and uncertainty behind us, I am even more committed to supporting our local arts sector through recovery and beyond. There are so many things that ArtsBuild is doing that I’m excited about!

Peterson

Jared Pickens

Tiffanie Robinson David Spiller

Michael Stone

Angela Stoudemire

Melissa Astin, Manager of Grants and Community Engagement

Amy Lowdermilk, Programs Manager

Jules Jackson, Programs Assistant

Jonathan Dean, Administrative Coordinator

We are seeing program participation like we’ve never seen before. We have waiting lists for our Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute and Tech Goes Home for the Arts programs. We are seeing the first of our Opportunity Fellows begin to get paid employment in the local arts sector as a result of the connections they made through ArtsBuild. We have gained 100 new donors to ArtsBuild, strengthening the foundation of our organization by connecting to people who we’ve never connected with before. We have added an entire new grade level to our Imagine! program, ensuring that every 5th grader in Hamilton County Schools can have an arts experience at Sculpture Fields at Montague Park and the Hunter Museum of American Art during the school year. And our building is open—we are utilizing our space as a hub for the arts community by hosting events, meetings, exhibits of local artists, and even live music. Come visit us. I’d love to share more about the things we are up to and the new, exciting developments here at ArtsBuild.

I am happy to share this Muse newsletter with you, our community of ArtsBuild donors. We can’t do any of the work we do at ArtsBuild without your support. Thank you!

Sincerely,

ArtsBuild Welcomes New Board Members

ArtsBuild is pleased to welcome five new members to the Board of Directors. Pictured left to right: John Beder (independent filmmaker), Lacey Furr (First Horizon), Michael Stone (Public Education Foundation), Jared Pickens (Boy Scouts of America), and Daniela Peterson (Trust for Public Land). We also thank Dr. Roger Brown, Peggy Townsend, and Sally Faulkner who recently concluded their ArtsBuild board service. We are fortunate to have such a talented and diverse group of board members.

We thank everyone who has contributed to the 2022 Annual Campaign as of August 31, 2022 and acknowledge them in this listing.

Andrew Hibbard Miles Huff

MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS

Benwood Foundation

Footprint Foundation

Lyndhurst Foundation • Nancy Lackey Community Education Fund • Mr. and Mrs. Alfred E. Smith, Jr.

Tennessee Arts Commission

VISIONARY ARTSBUILDERS

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Chapin

Mitch and Jackie Collins • Elder’s Ace Hardware •

Fiber Optics

First Horizon Foundation

George R. Johnson Family Foundation

Ms. Candy G. Kruesi

Mr. James McKissic

Mr. Ferman Miller* • Mr. Dan Rather

Ms. Angie Stoudemire

Weldon F. Osborne Foundation

*deceased

INSPIRATIONAL ARTSBUILDERS

Anonymous

Mr. and Mrs. William P. Aiken, Jr. •

Printing

Ms. Rowena L. Belcher

Mr. Charlie Brock

Mr. and Mrs. Paul K. Brock, Sr. • Mr. and Mrs. Paul K. Brock, Jr.

Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc., Tennessee Valley

Senator and Mrs. Robert P. Corker, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Nick Decosimo

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis J. Dyer

Jeannine and Gary Grogg • Mark and Lisa Henley

Sam and Jimmy Hudson

Mr. Miles Huff

Ms. Kristy Huntley

Mr. & Mrs. K. Donald Jensen

Mrs. Joy Jones

Dr. Dan Kennedy

Mrs. Sallie Lawrence •

PHOTO BY JOHN ADAMS

HACKER & KITTY CALDWELL

HACKER AND KITTY CALDWELL have been engaged in the civic and cultural life of Chattanooga for decades. They played a large part in the transformation of the Hunter Museum becoming the institution it is today. During Hacker’s tenure as Board Chair, the museum embarked on the $22 million 21st century waterfront building project to add 28,000 square feet of new construction, 34,000 square feet of renovation, restoration of the 1905 mansion, the creation of an outdoor sculpture plaza, and a complete reinstallation of the museum’s permanent collection. The Caldwells’ time and financial resources were instrumental in the completion of the project in 2005. Along with serving on the board as well, Kitty also initiated the museum’s Chairman’s Circle program, whose members provide vital support to the museum.

Yet perhaps the most valuable thing Hacker and Kitty have given to the museum and Chattanooga is their expertise as art collectors. As members of the museum’s first collectors’ group, they traveled to New York City many times to visit galleries and learn about and seek out items for the museum. As leaders in that role, they have helped the museum to acquire close to 30 artworks for the permanent collection.

Hacker and Kitty have seen Chattanooga evolve and grow to become a city known for its vibrant arts and culture, and hope that more artists visit and decide to make Chattanooga their home. The Caldwells say this award is an incredible honor for them, because Ruth Holmberg was a dear friend and mentor. They consider themselves as just one in a long line of arts patrons who have shaped a legacy and paved the way for a better and stronger Chattanooga because of the arts, a path that continues for the next generation to carry forward.

CHARLIE & IANTHA NEWTON

WHEN CHARLIE AND IANTHA started SPLASH Youth Arts Workshop, the program was a natural evolution of the ways they were already giving back to the community. Every Sunday for eight years, the Newtons and friends would prepare and serve meals in their downtown Chattanooga art studio for 75–150 homeless individuals and families. When they noticed that some of the kids who would come had problems with reading, they did art projects together with the kids and saw how transformational art was in terms of their learning abilities, social interactions, and just for having fun.

SPLASH now operates in the old James A. Henry Elementary School on Chattanooga’s west side in what was Charlie’s own 5th grade classroom, so in a way he has come full circle. Charlie grew up in the neighborhood and knew from age 5 that he wanted to be an artist. As a child, Iantha - originally from London, England - loved art too and would make fashion clothes for her dolls. In the SPLASH studio, Charlie and Iantha have an apprentice-style approach to teaching that gives each individual student what they need to develop the unique talent and abilities they already possess. Working together in the classroom, Charlie’s more direct way with the kids complements Iantha’s more nurturing qualities.

As practicing professional artists, both Charlie and Iantha believe it is important to continue to make their own art so that what they offer to their students comes from a place of authenticity. In their words, “We are just giving what we have to offer—we are giving art. If you let the focus be entirely on the people you are serving, then the community will show you what the needs are.”

The annual Ruth Holmberg Arts Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts in Chattanooga and who are actively engaged in the cultural life of our community— “Arts Builders” who exemplify ArtsBuild’s mission to build a stronger community through the arts as demonstrated by their significant contributions to the arts and their leadership.

and Mrs. Charles B. Lebovitz

M.J. and Howard Levine

Mr. and Mrs. Allen L. McCallie • Tom and Kristina Montague • Network For Good • Mrs. Margaret D. Oehmig

and Mrs. George H. Pettway

Mr. and Mrs. John Phillips • Dr. and Mrs. J. Stephen Rich • Tiffanie and Michael Robinson • Henry & Rachel Schulson

Dr. and Mrs. Robert L. Sendele

Mr. and Mrs. Hugh F. Sharber

Randy and Gloria Smith

Drs. Adam and Nickie Soufleris

Susan H. & Taylor Stein • Top Flight

Products, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Teo Valdés

Mrs. Joan H. Williams

PASSIONATE ARTSBUILDERS

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Boehm

Ms. Jean M. Brennan

Margaret Cabrera-Hudgins

Mrs. Andrea Crouch

Mrs. Leland H. Davenport

Ms. Olga de Klein

Mr. Everett J. Fisher, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Tony Harper

Ms.

E. Hudson

and Mrs. Bryan C. Kelly

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Kling

Mr. and Mrs. Alan L. Lebovitz

Ms. Amy Lowdermilk

Mr. Frank S. McDonald

A. Ramsey

River Gallery

and Mrs. Fred K. Robinson • Southern Champion Tray Co. • Mr. and Mrs. Alexis Tarumianz, Jr. •

PHOTO: JOSEPH SCHLABS © RED GROOMS, MEMBER OF ARTISTS RIGHTS SOCIETY

PHOTO: JOSEPH SCHLABS

RACIAL EQUITY GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS

A Renewed Focus on Equitable Arts Funding

ARTSBUILD’S first grant program specifically for artists of color was funded by the Benwood Foundation and was active for two years, from 2017 to 2018. When the fund was entirely expended, ArtsBuild took a break from the program as its Board of Directors went through the process of writing its new Strategic Plan for the organization. Equitable funding in the arts came up as a topic of importance and became a key factor in directing the strategic priorities and goals for ArtsBuild funding in the community.

In the Strategic Plan, ArtsBuild set forth the goal to recognize, support, and invest in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all aspects of our internal processes and external opportunities to build a stronger arts sector and organization. Part of that goal includes funding that benefits and serves artists, organizations, and audiences reflective of our city’s demographics.

Launched again in 2020, the Racial Equity Grant for Individual Artists (REGIA) program renews grant-funded support for artists of color and is a very direct and intentional way that

ArtsBuild can support the work of diverse artists that are reflective of our community and provide more grant funding for artists in these identity groups: Arab/Middle Eastern, Asian, Black or African-American, Hispanic/ Latino(a)(x), Indigenous (e.g., Native American, Pacific Islander).

Each year a different group is eligible to apply for awards of up to $10,000. Grant funding falls into three categories: Artist Works, Equipment, and Professional Development. Funding for the program is provided by Lyndhurst Foundation, Benwood Foundation, and Footprint Foundation, as well as ArtsBuild’s Annual Campaign.

So far, ten individual artists—five who identify as Black or African-American and five who identify as Hispanic/ Latino(a)(x)—have been awarded grants totaling $100,000. Funds have been utilized for specific projects and collaborations, as well as professional career development and equipment.

The next round of grants to be awarded this fall will go to Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander artists.

ArtsBuild affirms its commitment to recognizing, addressing and eradicating systemic racism and inequity. We will continue to use our work to reduce racial injustices both within the arts sector and the broader community. We know that the arts can heal as well as help us to understand and connect with each other.

Charlie Newton VISUAL ARTIST

Kofi Mawuko

WEST AFRICAN DRUMMER

Anthony Wiley

MUSICAL ARTIST & PRODUCER

“The REGIA grant has provided me the funding needed to produce a body of work that articulates that black male experience of living, suffering, growing, and healing in Chattanooga and America at large.”

MEET THE ARTISTS AT ARTSBUILD.COM/GRANT-MAKING#REGIA

Isela Arredondo CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR

The Artist Seven MURAL ARTIST & ILLUSTRATOR

Carl Cadwell MUSICAL ARTIST & COMPOSER Samantha De Armas DIGITAL MEDIA ARTIST

Kristina Sanchez-Mills

FINE ARTIST & TEACHER

Pablo Mazariegos

NARRATIVE FILMMAKER

“I want to bring hope to the many Latino immigrant children and mothers struggling with the grief of leaving their native country and living apart from their parents and children.”

“My art is intended to question and describe my mental illness to others in an attempt to destigmatize and validate the experience.”

Jose Loza

PORTRAIT & BRAND PHOTOGRAPHER

Donor Appreciation Event

We had a great turn out for the ArtsBuild donor appreciation event in July with special guest singersongwriter Patrick Sampson from New York. We visited, enjoyed wine and hors d’oeuvres from Apron Strings Catering and were entertained with music and song. Special thanks to Hollis House Live for connecting us to Patrick and thanks to everyone who supports ArtsBuild!

Arts Integrated Education

In September, ArtsBuild hosted workshops training teachers how to use shadow puppetry to teach history. The workshop facilitator, Kennedy Center Teaching Artist

Daniel Barash, traveled from Berkeley, California to Chattanooga for the week—which happened to be National Arts in Education Week!—to engage with students and teachers for the workshops. Shadow puppetry, with its bold shapes, vivid colors, and dramatic movement, is a highly engaging art form that allows students to express

their understanding through visual art, drama, and writing. Daniel taught the educators shadow puppetry techniques and ways students can use shadow puppetry to synthesize historical events through the writing of mini scenes. The students had fun too!

Opportunity Fellows

ArtsBuild congratulates our 2022 Opportunity Fellows on completing their summer work and their final presentations. Summer Tomes was paired with Scenic City Clay Arts, Emily Ruiz with Association for Visual Arts, Rainn Jackson with Stove Works, and Terrae Kelly with the Hunter Museum of American Art. ArtsBuild is pleased to support the professional development of college students

interested in becoming arts administrators and leaders in the arts. Did you know that the nonprofit arts and culture sector in Hamilton County supports more than 6,300 full time jobs? We thank Unum and the Nancy Lackey Community Education Fund for supporting this workforce development program.

Artists At Work

As a special project this year, ArtsBuild is serving as the Culture Hub for a new arts workforce development program serving the Thrive Region, which comprises 16 counties across northeast Alabama, northwest Georgia, and southeast Tennessee. Artists At Work (AAW) is a workforce resilience program, designed by an organization called THE OFFICE performing arts + film, to support the rebuilding of healthy communities through artistic civic engagement. Conceived as a publicprivate partnership, the program will provide a salary, plus full health benefits and professional development resources directly to participating artists; provide financial support to participating local cultural organizations; and connect both to the work of local social impact initiatives in areas such as antiracism, justice reform, sustainability and equitable development, health, economy, homelessness and housing, child welfare, and immigration. It is designed to impact the whole ecosystem of a community. Five local artists are paired and working in collaboration with five local social impact organizations. Artists At Work is funded nationally by the Mellon Foundation and Lyndhurst Foundation is supporting Artists At Work in the Thrive Region.

The UPS Store - Signal Mountain Road

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Tolar

Dr. Chris Topel and Mrs. Sybil Topel • Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Van Valkenburg

Mrs. Sue Anne H. Wells • Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. H. White • Mr. Billy Woodall and Mr. Rodney Simmons

SUSTAINING ARTSBUILDERS

Anonymous

Suzy and Mike Anthony

Ms. Melissa Astin • Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Aupperle

Dr. and Mrs. John F. Boxell

Anne and George Bright

Corky and Theresa Coker • Mr. and Mrs. Anthony M. D’Andrea, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe W. Davis, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Alan K. Dungan

Mr. Steven Fell • Mr. and Mrs. Scott Ferguson

Mr. and Mrs. James M. Haley, IV

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Hayslett, III

Mr. and Mrs. David Hetzler

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Hetzler

Ms. Victoria Johnson • Jill & Jim Levine • Dr. Linda I. McDaniel • Mr. and Mrs. John G. Miles

Mrs. Shirley Miller

Mr. Warren A. Mould

Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Mynatt, Jr.

Drs. James Nunally & Bess Ingram

Dr. and Mrs. Frederick W. Obear

Mr. and Mrs. Patten Pettway

Mrs. Kimberly F. Quillen

Mr. and Mrs. Harry T. Robinson, III

Ms. Ellen Simak

Mr. Patrick Sweetman and Ms. Theresa Liedtka

Mrs. Peggy Violette • Mr. John E. Wigal and Dr. Cecelia M. Wigal • Kathryn Wroth • Mr. David H. Young, III • SUPPORTING ARTSBUILDERS

• Anonymous • Ms. Marianna Allen • Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Allison, Jr.

• The Honorable Russell Bean • Mr. and Mrs. John W. Beard • Mr. and Mrs. Thilo H. Best •

PHOTO: JUNO (AKA TANQUERAY HARPER) / TRUE CAPTURE STUDIOS

Artists At Work exploring the Conasagua River in Dalton, GA.

What inspires you about the arts in our community?

Growing up in Chattanooga in the 80s and 90s has allowed me to witness all the positive changes that have come about in our city because of the arts. We are continuing to grow and inspire people within this community by continuing to build up the arts, which are an essential part of our world experience, not only by expanding our individual perspective so that we can understand others’ but also by literally improving our neighborhoods and shared social experiences.

Why do you feel it’s important to give back to the arts?

I grew up spending a lot of time around the arts. My stepmother owned an art gallery in St. Elmo before it developed into the neighborhood it is today. I was involved in theater and arts classes throughout middle and high school. I believe being exposed to the arts and participating in the arts has not only influenced my interests and career

path but has also allowed me to better understand myself. Arts education doesn’t get enough attention, in my opinion, and it has such an impact on building young peoples’ confidence, creative thinking, problem solving, and social skills. I know from experience!

Why did you decide to become an ArtsBuild donor?

I gave a donation to ArtsBuild for the first time when ArtsBuild was at a Chattanooga Girls Rock event. I’m on the board for Chattanooga Girls Rock. Seeing ArtsBuild out in the community just gave me the prompt I needed to make my first donation! I’m proud to be an annual donor now, and I encourage people to get engaged and learn more about all the different ways ArtsBuild is investing in the arts in our community. If I were to tell someone what ArtsBuild does in one sentence it would be, “ArtsBuild creates community and connection through the arts.” And that is something I want to support!

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Meghan Green

MEGHAN GREENE LIVES AND WORKS IN CHATTANOOGA AS A NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONAL. SHE RECENTLY BECAME AN ARTSBUILD DONOR AND HAS THESE THOUGHTS TO SHARE ABOUT WHY SHE SUPPORTS THE ARTS.

ARTSBUILD’S Tech Goes Home for the Arts continues to serve participants across the arts sector since we launched the program in 2020 in partnership with The Enterprise Center. Thompson Engineering took a keen interest in Tech Goes Home for the Arts, which provides course curriculum designed to give artists and small arts organizations digital skills and resources to build their practice, business, and audiences online, a free Chromebook, and access to low-cost internet. Thompson Engineering, through The Thompson Foundation, supports a variety of organizations, programs and activities in Chattanooga that strengthen our social framework, education, and sense of community. Pictured here is Sharon Law with Thompson Engineering (Chattanooga) presenting their check to ArtsBuild president James McKissic.

Haley Brown,

Vince

William

Judge

Joel B. Clements

David N. Collins

Mel Cooper

Linda & Pete Cooper

Davis

Davis

Diamond & Dr. Clark White

Jerry M.

Suzanne Ford

and Mrs. Douglas

Griscom

Howard Grody

John

Joseph B. Harris and

Susan Jones

Mrs. Frances F. Jones

Mr. Thomas Kale • Dr. and Mrs. Hyman M. Kaplan • Jim and Barbara Kennedy • Mr. Joseph D. Lance • Mrs. Donna Landry • Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Laseter • Mr. Russell B. Lee • Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Linden •

Cynthia H. Lovell

Mrs. Jonnie Sue Lyons

Mrs. Susan E. Martin

Ms. Kristin May • Dr. and Mrs. John W. McCravey • Mary & Don McDowell

Dr. and Mrs. John R. McGauley, Jr. • Mr. and Mrs. Jay Mills •

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

ArtsBuild staff enjoyed visiting with

at

event in July.

2022 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN Your gift supports the arts

Thanks to everyone who has already made their annual gift or pledge to the 2022 Annual Campaign! Your gift allows us to fulfill our mission to build a stronger community through the arts.

If you haven’t yet made your gift or pledge, please consider doing that soon! We are more than 50% of the way to our annual goal but only have three months left to get there by December 31. Every single gift counts.

Have you thought about a monthly recurring donation? It is easy to make it automatic, and might work better for you financially. Check out our online donation form at artsbuild.com, or give us a call at 423-777-4212.

PLANNED GIVING

A great choice: IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions

There are many ways to make charitable gifts that benefit both you as the donor and the causes you choose to support. One alternative to an outright cash gift that is applicable to donors age 701/2 years or older is to make a qualified charitable distribution, which is an otherwise taxable distribution from an IRA. Making this gift directly to a qualified charity like ArtsBuild can also satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution.

Have you considered naming ArtsBuild in your will? Many types of planned gifts are simple and easy to set up. If you are curious to learn more, contact your financial advisor or feel free to reach out to us for more information at kathryn@artsbuild.com.

No matter the size, planned and alternative gifts like a qualified charitable IRA distribution make a difference!

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS

Angela L. Myers

Janine L. Nash

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Neuhoff

Ms. Kathleen Nolte

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Oakes

Mr. Ernie Paik

Ms. Martha Parker • Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Richert, Jr.

Ms. Ann Riley

Meredith L. Rivers

Mr. and Mrs. Larimore B. Roberts

Dr. Sanford W. Shaw • Ms. Jennifer H. Smart

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Smith

Ms. Louise Spector • Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. Taylor

Dr. and Mrs. Mel Twiest

Unum Matching Gifts Program

Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Vaughn

Mrs. Catherine Vitale, in memory of Dennis Palmer

Dr. James A. Ward, III • Mr. and Mrs. Stroud Watson

Tianna and Brett Weaver

and Mrs. Ray Webb

Revs. Ann & W. B. Weeks

Ms. Kathy Whitaker

Mrs. Lea Anne Wiles

Ms. Lillie Wills

Ms. Juana Wilson-Roberts

Mr. Tony Young

ARTSBUILDERS

Ms. Crystal Bell • Ms. Diana Brazelton

L.

and Mrs. Grant Davis

Mrs. Marilyn Garner

Ms. Sarah Goza

Ms. Denise Hardee

Dr. Nicholas Honerkamp

Jake and Bobbie Howell

Ms. Molly K. Kennedy

Ms. Lynne Mayer

Ms. Lindsey M. McCarter • Mr. and Mrs. George E. McGee, III • Dr. J. Edward McKinney

Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Panter • Dr. and Mrs. John G. Paty, Jr. • Mr. and Mrs. Bob Radel • Mr. Matthew L. Shelley •