posted 2/10/99

Arts United to support arts education in Greeneville/Greene County schools

Arts United board member David Hendricksen makes a point as Angie Clendenon, Beverly Miller and Terry Baker listen attentively. Photo by Heather Rich

Arts United, an organization dedicated to coordinating opportunities for arts education in the Greeneville/Greene County schools, held its first advisory board meeting this week on the campus of Tusculum College.

Composed of several organizations, the group will work with area teachers to help organize and coordinate learning experiences in the arts, offer in-service opportunities for teachers, suggest artists-in-residence for Greeneville/Greene County schools, and support arts education with school supplies, among other plans.

Allison Adams, who chairs both the advisory board and the operating board of Arts United, said “the timing is right” for such an organization in Greeneville and Greene County, and the group will soon be sending packets to teachers to get their input.

“We’ll work together [with teachers] toward a common goal and pool our resources and ideas,” she said.

The organization came together through Tusculum College Artist-in-Residence Marilyn duBrisk, who said she realized the need for coherence in area arts education resources. The mission of the advisory board of Arts United will be to brainstorm ideas, she said, while the operating board will “actualize the programs.”

Arts United will use the Tusculum College Arts Outreach program, headed by duBrisk, as a base of operation.

Tusculum College Associate Professor of Music and Assistant Vice-President for the Residential College David Hendricksen, who sits on the advisory board, said that arts education can have an effect on all areas of the curriculum.

The arts “have an enormous benefit in enhancing and reinforcing other disciplines,” Hendricksen said. “There’s an interchange between the arts and sciences that is often unacknowledged.”

Member of the Arts United advisory board are Dinah McInturff, Margaret Ayers, Terry Baker, Carla Bewley, Beverly Serral, Teresa Estepp, Judith Plucker, Marilyn duBrisk (ex-officio), Nikki Niswonger, Velma Presley, Jane Brown, David Hendricksen, Diane Strimer, Dan Dugger, Angie Clendenon, Beverly Miller, Kay Puckett, Patsy Crum, Allison Adams, Peter Noel, Delina Hensley and Betsy Ransdell.

On the operating board are Allison Adams, Kay Puckett, Marilyn duBrisk (ex-officio), Nikki Niswonger, Jane Brown, Delina Hensley, Carla Bewley and Sara Alenduff.

“It’s very encouraging to have that many people come and show their interest,” said board member Kay Puckett, co-president of the Greeneville City Schools Foundation. “It’s a very positive start to this organization.”