International festival finds its roots in Chattanooga Donna “Elle” Harrison’s favorite memories revolve around music. The veteran Chattanooga broadcaster vividly recalls joining her mother and grandmother at Riverbend to see B.B. King. She smiles wide at the recollection of broadcasting live for Power 94 and Groove 93 FM from the Bessie Smith Strut. Music brought...
Tivoli Theatre Foundation Envisions Performing Arts Center On a Tuesday morning in downtown Chattanooga, the Tivoli Theatre’s lobby smells of popcorn. Small children stare up at the gilded ceilings, clutching their soft drinks and buzzing with the excitement of an extraordinary experience on an otherwise ordinary day. They’re here to enjoy a summertime movie series...
New Location Sets Enhanced Course for Groundbreaking Arts Organization (PHOTO Caption: The former Solid Anchor Church in East Chattanooga will become the new home and community hub for RISE Chattanooga.) 2020 was a year of devastation for Shane Morrow, Executive Director of RISE (Responsive Initiatives for Social Empowerment) Chattanooga, an independent, minority-led arts organization dedicated...
Reflecting on the Arts and Overcoming Systemic Racism There is no way for me to look at the work that I do outside of my lived experience and the skin I’m in. I am a black man who also serves the community as president of a large arts institution. Over the past few weeks, since...
Jazmine LeBlanc, Co-Director of East Lake Language Arts, sees story everywhere, especially in her eclectic neighborhood. This is a story about a neighborhood and a lady with a big imagination. The neighborhood is in the heart of a city. All sorts of people live here…people from South America and India, people who drive fancy electric...
Sitting with Daniela Peterson at Niedlov’s on Main Street, it’s easy to recognize that people know her here – really know her. Why they know her is part of a winding tale of her innate desire for connection and her remarkable ability to create a home and help others find their own. Connecting with Words...
