FOCUS IN
ArtsEd Tennessee: Expanding Access, Empowering Educators
Participants in a Unified Vision Workshop.
An arts education nonprofit advocates to strengthen arts programs and create opportunities for students.
Stephen Coleman
ArtsEd Tennessee is the leading voice for arts education advocacy across the state, working to ensure that every student has access to high-quality instruction in music, visual art, theatre, and dance.
Through a statewide network of educators, partners in the business community, and advocates, our nonprofit organization is committed to advancing equity in arts education and strengthening the field through direct support, policy engagement, and professional learning. At its core, ArtsEd Tennessee exists to champion the arts as a vital part of every student’s learning experience, and to empower the educators who make that possible.
Advocacy That Drives Change
Through our active engagement with state lawmakers and education leaders, we keep arts education at the forefront of public policy. We empower local advocates with tools to promote arts access in their own communities.
One valuable resource is our free online advocacy course, which strengthens advocatesʼ skills and guides them in creating a local arts advocacy organization.
Through our advocacy initiatives, educator programs, and strategic collaborations, we are building a more inclusive and resilient future for arts education in Tennessee.
A monthly newsletter keeps educators, administrators, and advocates informed on the latest legislation, funding updates, and policy changes impacting arts programs in K–12 schools. By amplifying voices statewide, ArtsEd Tennessee is shaping a stronger, more unified case for the arts in education.
Jon Larmoyeux, a participant at a Unified Vision Workshop, shares a teaching strategy during the Show and Share session.
Meeting Arts Educators Where They Are
In many underserved and rural districts, arts teachers face unique obstacles. Professional isolation, lack of opportunities for professional growth, and limited resources are challenges ArtsEd Tennessee is working to address with our newest initiative, Unified Vision: The Power of the Arts Together.
General music clinician, Alexis Yatuzis-Derryberry, works with a Unified Vision participant creating a lesson plan.
This free, traveling professional development workshop brings music, visual art, and theatre educators together at centrally located regional hubs for a full day of content-specific learning, collaboration, and networking. By removing barriers related to cost and geographic isolation, Unified Vision strengthens instructional capacity while connecting rural arts educators to state and local arts resources.
Each event is designed not just to build skills, but to foster advocacy and community. These gatherings help teachers feel seen, supported, and part of a larger movement to ensure equitable access to the arts.
James Wells, manager of educational content at Crayola, addresses participants at a Unified Vision Workshop.
Creating a Statewide Network for Arts Education Advocacy
As both a convener and a resource provider, ArtsEd Tennessee is uniquely positioned to support arts educators across the state. Through our advocacy initiatives, educator programs, and strategic collaborations, we are building a more inclusive and resilient future for arts education in Tennessee.
ArtsEd Tennessee remains grounded in one clear belief: Every student deserves the opportunity to learn and grow through instruction in the arts, taught during the school day by certified and highly trained arts educators.
Learn more about ArtsEd Tennessee and check out our resources at artsedtn.org.
Stephen Coleman is the president of ArtsEd Tennessee. artsedtn@gmail.com