Dear Friend of ArtsBuild,
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — West African Proverb
At ArtsBuild, we often say there’s never a quiet week—there’s always a performance, project, or program happening, and it’s all made possible because of you. Every day, we see the powerful impact of the arts in our community, and we’re deeply grateful to stand alongside you in supporting the people and organizations that make Chattanooga a vibrant place to live, work, and create.
We’re also mindful that this is a moment of challenge and change for the arts. Federal funding uncertainties and growing restrictions on creative expression are real threats to the freedom that fuels our cultural ecosystem. Now more than ever, we must affirm our support for the artists, educators, administrators, and cultural leaders who shape the stories we tell and the values we share.
Thanks to your generosity, ArtsBuild continues to meet this moment with action and impact. We’ve maintained grants for individual artists, expanded arts education programs, and grown leadership initiatives like the Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute and the Opportunity Fellows program. Through Periscope, we’re empowering artists with entrepreneurial skills, and recent studies have shown that the arts contribute over $190 million annually to our local economy.
Your belief and support in the arts is what allows us to keep moving forward. Thank you for standing with us, for investing in creativity, and for ensuring that Chattanooga remains a place where the arts thrive.
With deepest gratitude,
James McKissic
President, ArtsBuild