News

Scot Copeland – Arts leader, advocate, friend

By Anne B. Pope, Executive Director & Hal Partlow, Association Director of Grants –

2FBD67ABA-F591-FF1E-0B84380B93A4F1EEAs Producing Artistic Director of the Nashville Children’s Theatre (NCT) since 1985, Scot Copeland was driven by the belief that theater can inspire creativity, imagination and empathy. Scot insisted that children receive the highest quality theatrical experiences possible. NCT is celebrated throughout the country for its exciting and innovative delivery of theater for young audiences due to his direction. Nationally, his work as Board President of the International Association of Theatres for Children and Young People (TYA/USA) made lasting impact on the field by helping theaters network across the nation, by championing new and better plays for young audiences, and in developing a level of prominence and respect for the field.

A prolific writer and adaptor of numerous plays for young audiences, Scot incorporated the rich local resources provided by NCT’s community, Nashville, into the works he created. Community was essential to Scot, much as Scot was, and will continue to be, an essential part of the community as thousands of artists who were fortunate to work with him continue to create and inspire. Tennessee is very privileged that Scot chose to live and create here. We at the Tennessee Arts Commission are saddened by his passing and will miss his kindness, generosity and talent. We send our condolences to his wife, Rene, their sons and the arts community.