Our September Happenings begins with a message from our Exec Director Jeff Lyscczyn, who says
Lots to talk about this month, so I’ll dive right in!
Our K–12 Arts Scholarship application period has officially closed, and the response this year was remarkable. We received applications from students representing at least 14 different schools in Rutherford County, and at the time of my writing, we’ve already awarded 20 scholarships and begun fulfilling requests for lessons, instruments, supplies, and other arts opportunities. Thanks so much to our friends at the Christy-Houston Foundation, Inc., and our generous donors for making this funding possible!
I love the numbers, but I love what they represent even more. Behind every application is a young person who wants to sing, play, paint, perform, create or simply discover what they might be capable of doing. These scholarships remove barriers for them to do just that. If you’d like to help us fund next year’s scholarships, click here to donate: Just type in “RAA Scholarships” and that’s where your money will go!
Which, naturally, brings me to Dolly Parton.
There are countless reasons to admire Dolly as an artist, but what has always impressed me most is what she has done with her success. She never seems to have forgotten where she came from, and she has spent decades turning her own good fortune into opportunities for other people.
There’s something profound in that.
Dolly is the penultimate example of what happens when people use their talents, resources, and influence to create opportunities for somebody else.
That's the community we're trying to build here in Rutherford County. Our scholarship recipients are part of it. Our artists and arts organizations are part of it. Our teachers, volunteers, businesses and supporters are part of it. And everyone who shares their time, talent, and treasure becomes part of it, too.
Maybe that's one of the lessons we can take from Dolly: Success isn't about how far you go. It's about how many people you help along the way.
What a world it would be if we all tried to be a little bit like Dolly every day.
I will always love you,
Jeff
Read on for events in many genres, calls for artists and vendors, and much more!
Arts & Arts Advocate Spotlight: We Have Four New Board Members!
We are thrilled to welcome our newest Board of Directors’ members to Rutherford Arts Alliance. Their rich experience, skill set and heart for the arts are evident in what they have already been a part of in Rutherford County. We are honored to welcome our new members and look forward to their contributions to our ongoing commitment to the local arts community. Thank you for dedicating your time and talents to our mission.
