Welcome to the Community School of the Arts in Knoxville, Tennessee, named “one of the top arts- and humanities-based programs in the country” by the National Endowment of the Arts and the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and one of 35 Finalists for the 2010 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards.

Founded in 1992, the Community School of the Arts was the first nonprofit organization of its kind in the state of Tennessee to provide free, quality instruction in all the arts to children who would otherwise not be able to afford them. Our instructors are dedicated professional musicians, dancers, artists, and educators. The School also provides all instruments and supplies, offers volunteer tutoring services to youngsters who are struggling academically, and builds long-term mentoring relationships to help students determine their futures.

We are committed to the education and advancement of each child through active participation in all of the arts. Our mission: empowerment; our vehicle: the arts.

The Community School of the Arts is a fully accredited member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education.

News

It's time for Side/By/Side 2013!

Bennett Galleries and Company and Community School of the Arts present Side/By/Side, June 3 - 7, at the galleries located at 5308 Kingston Pike in Bearden.

Our annual exhibit and fundraiser features the collaborative works of professional artists from Knoxville and surrounding communities and their student apprentices, who work throughout the school year to create pieces of glass art, pottery, paintings, and photography to be auctioned to benefit the school, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Many of these "teams" have been working together as many as four years. Community School of the Arts is a nonprofit after-school program that provides free instruction in the visual and performing arts to underserved youngsters from Knox and surrounding counties.

The mentor artists in this year’s Side/By/Side are Bill Capshaw, Allen Cox, Tina Curry, Don Dudenbostel, Susana Esrequis, Joyce Gralak, Janet Harper, Jean Hess, Richard Jolley, Beauvais Lyons, Chris McAdoo, Peter Rose, Tommie Rush and Robin Surber.

You're invited to attend two events during the week the exhibit is on display:

• A special open house preview on Wednesday, June 5, from 3 to 6 p.m. featuring music and dance from the performance “side” of the Community School of the Arts.

• The closing reception and silent auction on Friday, June 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. Echo Bistro & Wine Bar will provide refreshments.

See you soon!

We're top 50!

The Community School of the Arts’ Side-By-Side Visual Arts Apprentice Program is one of 50 finalists for the 2013 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards, a signature initiative of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Service to showcase cultural excellence and enhance the availability of out-of-school arts and humanities programs to children and young people. The final 12 winners will be announced at the end of June, and each will receive a check for $10,000 at a White House ceremony in October.

Wish us luck!

Celebrating with the WayneStock team

We were humbled and honored this week when organizers of WayneStock: For the Love of Drew presented Community School of the Arts executive director Jennifer Willard with a generous check of proceeds raised at the two-night music festival held in February at Relix Variety Theatre.

The third annual festival brought together more than 10 Knoxville bands (who donated their time) to celebrate the city's rich music scene and raise money for CSA's non-profit after-school music and arts program.

WayneStock 3 music festival to benefit Community School of the Arts

We're thrilled that the organizers of WayneStock: For the Love of Drew, a two-day music festival being held February 1 and 2, at the Relix Variety Theatre in Knoxville, have chosen Community School of the Arts as the beneficiary of this year's proceeds!

The festival was born out of tragedy—the unexpected death in December 2010 of Andrew Bledsoe, the 23-year-old son of News Sentinel music writer Wayne Bledsoe. Knoxville's music community came together for a musical memorial and tribute for Drew and show of support for Wayne, who has given so generously of his time and energy to local musicians for 30 years. The second WayneStock was held to celebrate the life and music of Phil Pollard, a charismatic drummer who died suddenly at age 44 in October 2011.

WayneStock 3 celebrates life and Knoxville's rich, creative, and supportive musical community by featuring a line-up of new and established artists.

We're honored to be a part of this year's WayneStock festival, an all-ages event beginning at 7 p.m. each night. For more info, visit waynestock.org.

CSA alum Charles Myers returns to teach Culinary Arts Workshop

CSA alum Charles Myers took four eager students under his tutelage in the First Presbyterian Church kitchen tonight for lessons in peeling, roasting and baking. The results were absolutely delicious!

Charles Myers shows Felicia Harris, left, and Kierra Webb, right, how to use an ice cream scoop to distribute even amounts of cupcake batter.

Happy 20th Birthday, Community School of the Arts!

We can hardly believe it, but Community School of the Arts first opened its doors 20 years ago!

Scott Rogers, Charles Myers, Sheenan and Greg Lundy, and the three Jackson brothers were among our very first students. Later that school year, we welcomed the Story family, and not long after that said hello to the Niceleys, the Stalsworths, the Coopers, the Allens, the Williams...the list goes on. It's been a privilege to be a part of these students' lives and watch them grow and succeed in their endeavors.

Our first instructors were Elizabeth Goode and David Brunell on piano and Martha Bachelder Kauffman on violin. Executive director Ms. Jennifer Willard taught the first art class, quickly followed by Pam Jordan.

Today, Community School of the Arts has 150 students and a permanent faculty of 14. Time flies when you're having fun!

We're so proud to be marking this wonderful anniversary! Thanks to everyone who has been a part of this amazing and fulfilling journey.

Summer flashback, or What We Did on our Summer Vacations

With less than a month before classes begin at Community School of the Arts, we wanted to share some exciting things that happened over the summer.

Sidling up to Side/By/Side

Spring is in the air! For CSA students in the visual arts apprentice program, that means the creative juices are flowing, drills are buzzing and kilns are full blaze in preparation for the annual Side/By/Side Exhibit. Mark your calendars! The Side/By/Side Silent Auction and Reception will be held Friday, June 1, at Bennett Galleries in Bearden.

For the second year, CSA student Sarah Emory, 15, works on mixed media
pieces with artist Robin Surber.

Big news

We're pleased to announce that Community School of the Arts has been nominated by the Tennessee Arts Commission, the East Tennessee Foundation, and the Arts & Culture Alliance for the 2012 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards!

Faculty spotlight: Carol Zinavage

Over the next few months, we'll shine the spotlight on our fantastic faculty members. There's no better place to start than with Knoxville Symphony Orchestra principal keyboardist Carol Zinavage, who is now in her 11th year of teaching at CSA.
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