Tennessee Arts Commission will meet in Johnson City

By Staff Reports

The Tennessee Arts Commission will hold its next quarterly meeting in Johnson City at the Carnegie Hotel, l216 W. State of Franklin Road. The meeting will be held in the Grand Soldiers Ballroom on Wednesday, Sept.19, at 9 a.m.

The Commission traditionally holds at least one meeting a year outside of Nashville. This allows the state’s arts agency to become more aware of the creative assets across the state, and provides an opportunity to meet constituents in their respective communities.

The Tri-Cities region offers a wealth of cultural resources. With roots that run deep and strong, music has played an important role in the region. Bluegrass has a storied history, and the early beginnings of country music are tied to the region. The Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving the history of this musical heritage. Music of a different style is presented throughout the year by Kingsport’s Symphony of the Mountains and the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra. Traditional storytelling from the area has gained national recognition, and the region has a host of community theaters offering quality performances.

Commission members from Johnson City include Ann Smith and Ed Gerace. They have worked together in planning an exciting agenda for the state arts agency’s visit.

“We are so excited to welcome the Tennessee Arts Commission to Northeast Tennessee,” Smith said. “While here for the quarterly meeting, we also want to encourage our special guests to explore and discover all the rich cultural amenities our region has to offer.”

Gerace shares Smith’s enthusiasm about the Commission coming to the Tri-Cities. “It’s an honor for our region to host the Commission, and we’re all looking forward to a successful and productive meeting,” Gerace said. “It’s also an opportunity to spotlight the traditional arts and cultural heritage that exists in this historic part of our state.”

A review of commission activities will be provided by Anne Pope, the TAC executive director.

While in Bristol, the Commission will tour the Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center, and the Paramount Center for the Arts. In Jonesborough, the commission will tour the International Storytelling Center.

The commission’s quarterly meetings are open to the public.