This summer, more than 350 educators and instructors gathered on the Belmont University campus in Nashville to attend the annual Tennessee Arts Academy (TAA).  The Academy is a weeklong session for arts teachers across the state including visual, music and theater arts.  Educators receive training from national experts in their arts field in order to enhance the classroom experience for their students.

Each year, the TAA recognizes key arts supporters across the state.  This year’s awards included:

  • Academy Award: Governor Bill Haslam for his work in support of arts education
  • Tony Award-winning playwright: Christopher Durang
  • Joe W. Giles Lifetime Achievement Award: Margaret Campbelle-Holman, music educator
  • TAA Outstanding Service and Achievement Recipient: Jim Dodson, veteran art educator

Dodson, a 31-year art teacher at Jefferson Middle School, was presented the award for his service and achievement during his seven-year tenure as the Tennessee Arts Academy Visual Art Director.  In this role, he initiated several new programs and exhibits to the Academy.  He started the “Best of the Best” Student Art Show that brought together the 30 winners in each of the 10 art categories from the three statewide student shows held earlier in the year.  He also added a statewide-juried show for art teachers to display their own creations.  The title of the show is “Connections” because Dodson wanted to highlight the relationship between teacher creativity and student creativity.  Artists from both shows receive recognition at the annual opening reception held during the TAA each year.

Visitors to the Leu Museum on the Belmont College campus viewing art from the “Best of the Best” Student Art Show held each year at the Tennessee Arts Academy

Jim Dodson (far right) with some of the award winning student artists from across the State.

One of the art teacher award winning pieces from the TAA “Connections” Exhibit