Side-By-Side Visual Arts Apprentice Program Recognized Nationally

From Suzanne Lynch, Director of Marketing and Development –

The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and its cultural partners—the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services—selected only 50 outstanding program finalists from all over the country for their work in providing excellent arts and humanities learning opportunities to young people. Twelve of these will be awarded the 2015 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award in Washington, DC.

Tennessee’s Side-By-Side Visual Arts Apprentice Program, which is offered through the Knoxville Community School of Arts, is one of those 50 finalists.

The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards exemplifies how arts and humanities programs outside of the regular school day enrich the lives of young people throughout the country by teaching new skills, nurturing creativity and building self-confidence. Side-By-Side, which is in its 16th year of operation, is well-deserving of the award. The unique program pairs Community School of Arts students with professional artists in their studios from four to six months each year. The students witness, experience and participate in the creative process of their master artist. An end of year exhibition showcases both the work of the student and the professional at Bennett Galleries and Company, a well-known professional gallery in Knoxville.

Artist masters have included Judy Brater, Bill Capshaw, Allen Cox, Tina Curry, Pat Delashmit, Don Dudenbostel, Susana Esrequis, Dean Fisher, Diane Fox, Marcia Goldenstein, Janet Harper, Jean Hess, Kathy Holland, Richard Jolley, Philip Livingston, Beauvais Lyons, Marga Hayes McBride, Christine Patterson, Susan Wood Reider, Tom Riesing, Josephine Robinson, Tommie Rush, Peter Rose, Andy Saftel, Mona Shiber, Clark Stewart, Cynthia Tollefsrud, Lois Wallace and Betsy Worden—and many of whom have made long-term commitments to the program.

Since its beginning, the Side-By-Side program has been funded in part through a Tennessee Arts Commission Funds-For-At-Risk-Youth grant. Congratulations to the program on becoming a finalist for this prestigious award.

Learn more about the Knoxville Community School of Arts Side-By-Side program.