Art Makes an Impact in Greater Chattanooga

Greater Chattanooga's nonprofits foster creative opportunties.

By Charlie Moss on August 7, 2023

Great art plays an important role in Greater Chattanooga. Many artists call the region home and flourish here, thanks to a community of art lovers and nonprofit organizations that support their work.

Access to Creativity

Every Sunday for eight years, Charlie and Iantha Newton serve meals to homeless families in their downtown Chattanooga art studio. Iantha, who grew up in a working-class family of seven in London, and Chattanooga-native Charlie Newton noticed that some of the children they were serving had problems reading.

In response, they created SPLASH Youth Arts Workshop, a program housed in Charlie Newton’s old elementary school that uses art instruction to mentor Chattanooga’s at-risk youth.

“We wanted to make art classes available to low-income, at-risk, mostly African American youth who would not normally be able to pay for art classes,” Charlie Newton says. “I was one of those kids, so I know how important it is to have access to creativity.”

At SPLASH, the Newtons give students the individual attention needed to develop their unique talents and abilities through an apprentice-style approach. The students’ artwork is displayed in art shows, with a portion of the proceeds going back to the kids.

“The impact is so broad, it’s hard to put into words,” Charlie Newton says. “We keep kids off the street and away from negative influences. We believe that SPLASH saves lives.”

In 2022, Charlie and Iantha Newton were recipients of the 2022 Ruth Holmberg Arts Leadership Award, a recognition given by the local nonprofit, ArtsBuild, to residents who make significant contributions to arts and culture in Chattanooga. With a vision of increasing access to the arts for all, ArtsBuild uses art as a tool to bolster artists, public schools and the local economy. 

Open-Door Policy

Dale Woodfin launched Arts in the Burg after returning to his hometown of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, in 2014. The program provides a working studio space for the public, promotes creative placemaking and works to make South Pittsburg a unique travel destination through arts and entertainment. 

The region’s youth can explore several different mediums for expressing themselves through different art classes offered by Arts in the Burg.

“We’ve had 150 students or so, and for a small area, that’s a pretty good impact. I’ve watched young people gain confidence, literally gain a voice when they were very quiet and didn’t feel like anybody wanted to hear what they had to say. They look forward to coming here and just thrive,” Woodfin says.

Emerging artists also benefit from resources offered by Arts in the Burg. While other art organizations tend to be more selective in who they lend working space to, Woodfin feels it’s important to support creatives that might not otherwise be able to get that experience.

“I think art has a way of erasing those dividing lines that we have otherwise,” Woodfin says.

Local Spotlight

Before serving as the executive director of the Creative Arts Guild, Amanda Brown spent most of her free time immersed in the performing arts – dancing, singing and acting. Now, she strives to support other artists in her community through Creative Arts Guild. The nonprofit supports public art initiatives, provides education in visual and performing arts, and hosts community events to showcase regional talent. Creative Arts Guild also partners with the Oscar N. Jonas Memorial Foundation to bring artists into local school systems at no cost to students.

“Our art programs have helped children make connections with working artists and offered exposure to art of all mediums, instilling the value of creativity and artistic exploration,” Brown says.

This partnership provides approximately 40,000 individual art experiences annually and ensures that every child has access to the arts regardless of their socioeconomic status.

“Through arts educational opportunities as well as exhibition, performance and public arts opportunities, we have a mission of fostering local talent in all we do,” Brown says.

Showcasing the Arts

The Chattanooga Airport is also supporting local talent. Through CHA ART SPACE and other visual displays, the airport provides designated space for local artists, with exhibits that showcase the people and cultures significant to the community. Before stepping outside, visitors gain a deeper understanding of what makes the region special.

“We’ve had great response, and people are really interested in it,” says Blake Poole, former vice president of air service and economic development for Chattanooga Airport.

Carrie Pendergrass, an artist herself, is the curator behind CHA ART SPACE. All the pieces are for sale, with proceeds supporting both artists and CHA ART SPACE’s mission of offering public art exhibits.

Common Ground

Ann Law is an avid traveler and the artist behind Cultural Cross Ties, the newest permanent exhibit at the airport.

Law’s video installation features Hebrew and English subtitles surrounded by painted vintage suitcases and was produced with help from eight other regional artists and four artists from Giv’atayim, Israel.

“Even though I have a clear destination, I have a time limit – I’m moving quickly. It’s such a pleasure to be embraced by all of these colors, the imaginations, the energy, the whole thing. They’re little treasures, and they also reflect a sense of place,” Law says.

The work was inspired by a conversation between two groups of people, who, despite coming from different places, find common ground in their understanding of the power of art.

Vibrant Economy

A strong airport and a vibrant arts scene are two indicators of a thriving economy. Chattanooga Airport continues to add more exhibits, but that’s just the start of its renovation and expansion plans.

The airport is undergoing a $28 million improvement project, which will include a 26,000-square-foot terminal expansion, featuring three new passenger gates with jet bridges to expedite passenger boarding and deplaning, as well as more restaurant and dining space.

The airport also says it is continuing conversations with airlines about new routes to and from Chattanooga.

This is the largest expansion to the passenger terminal in more than 30 years, and it’s a sign that the region is growing and that the airport is rising to the occasion to serve its diverse community of flyers.