History

History of Arts Alliance Mountain Empire

2003

  • The mission and goals for the organization were established.
    • Mission: To nurture, advocate and celebrate the arts across the Mountain Empire
    • Goals: To support artists and arts organizations and the community To improve recognition of the aesthetic, educational, and economic value of the arts
  • AAME was incorporated in Tennessee and adopts A! Magazine as a project that fits the mission and goals of the Board.
  • AAME assumes printing costs of A! Magazine and partners with Bristol Herald Courier BHC) to print and distribute the magazine.

2004

  • AAME is granted 501©3 non-profit status.
  • The first issue of A! Magazine is published under AAME sponsorship.
  • The first website is developed.
  • AAME receives a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission to publish a visitor’s guide to the region “Our Cultural Crossroads.” (20,000 copies)

2005

  • AAME is incorporated in Virginia.
  • AAME publishes second edition of “Our Cultural Crossroads,” funded by advertising.
  • A Workshop is conducted for arts organizations on grant writing and financial planning.

2006

  • Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC) and Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) award grants for A! Magazine.
  • The content of A! Magazine and an email digest go online at www.artsmagazine.info.
  • In November, AAME is co-host of Bristol’s Sesquicentennial Ball.
  • Art in Public Places installs sculptures in downtown Bristol.
  • AAME invites artists to display and sell their work at Bristol’s Border Bash.

2007

  • Grants are received from VCA and TAC for A! Magazine.
  • Youth Arts Committee and A! initiate “Arts for Youth Spotlight” column with BHC as page sponsor.
  • Art in Public Places installs second sculpture exhibit in downtown Bristol.
  • AAME continues to invite artists to display and sell their art at Bristol’s Border Bash.
  • AAME sponsors workshop on print and internet media at ETU Bristol.

2008

  • Grants are received from VCA and TAC for A! Magazine.
  • Art in Public Places installs third exhibit in downtown Bristol.
  • AAME continues to sponsor artists’ work at Bristol’s Border Bash.
  • AAME’s permanent status as 501©3 nonprofit is granted by the IRS.

2009

  • AAME hosts first Artistic Excellence art show for youth.
  • Art in Public Places becomes a separate entity.
  • AAME receives grant from TAC for A! Magazine.
  • A! receives three awards for journalistic excellence from the Tri-Cities Chapter of Professional Journalists.
  • !5th Anniversary of A! Magazine is celebrated.

2010

  • A goal-setting retreat affirms AAME’s focus as communication and education in service to the arts. Specific goals:
    • Continue A! Magazine
    • Recruit and educate board members
    • Host a workshop
    • Conduct a membership drive
    • Advocate on local, state and national levels
    • Apply for grant funding
    • Update by-laws
  • AAME receives grant for A! Magazine from TAC.
  • Bristol Music Club honors AAME and A! Magazine at the November fundraiser.
  • Mayors of Bristol, VA and TN issue proclamations naming November 12, 2010 as A! Magazine for the Arts Day.

2011

  • AAME collaborates with Virginia Intermont College and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to present art and photography exhibit at VI.
  • Fundraising campaign is successful.

2012

  • AAME’s by-laws were amended.
  • Leslie Grace replaces Angela Wampler as writer and graphic designer for A! Magazine.

2013

  • AAME institutes the arts-related Speaker Series.
  • TAC awards grant for A! Magazine.
  • AAME institutes a Gala with meal and entertainment.

2014

  • AAME plans and conducts the second Gala.
  • The Speaker Series continues.
  • TAC awards as grant for A! Magazine.
  • AAME discusses financial concerns related to decreased ad sales and the increase of online reading.

2015

  • AAME hosts the third Gala with the added dimension of honoring area residents who have made significant contributions to the arts in this region.
  • The Speaker Series continues.
  • TAC awards grant for A! Magazine.
  • Financial concerns and discussions continue; responding to current trends in online reading becomes a focus.

2016

  • The second Gala with the focus of presenting Arts Achievement Awards is held.
  • The Speaker Series continues in collaboration with the William King Museum of Art.
  • TAC awards a grant for A! Magazine.
  • The annual fundraising /membership drive continues.

2017

  • AAME held the third Arts Achievement Awards and first silent art auction at the Gala.
  • The Speaker Series continues in collaboration with the William King Museum of Art.
  • AAME employs Summit Corporation for accounting purposes.
  • TAC awards grant for A! Magazine.
  • The annual fundraising/member drive is held.

2018

  • The fourth Gala honoring Arts Achievement Award winner with silent art auction was held.
  • Sponsorship for the Gala was solicited.
  • The Speaker Series in collaboration with William King Museum of Arts, Bristol Public Library, and the Birthplace of Country Music continues.
  • A technology committee is formed, and the TAC awards a grant to create a new website for AAME and A! Magazine.
  • TAC awards an additional grant for A! Magazine.

2019

  • The fifth Arts Achievement Awards Gala is held with the third silent art auction.
  • Sponsorship for the Gala increased.
  • The Speaker Series continues in collaboration with the Bristol Public Library and the Birthplace of Country Music.
  • Annual fundraising /member solicitation takes place.
  • The technology committee oversees the completion of a new website for AAME and A! Magazine.
  • TAC awards a grant for A! Magazine.
  • VCA awards a grant for Sonny Kelly's program entitled "The Talk."

2020

  • Sonny Kelly performed “The Talk” at Virginia Middle School
  • A! the Magazine struggled financially with a lack of advertisement sales due to art event cancellations and closures related to the pandemic.
  • The Arts Achievement Awards Gala was canceled due to the pandemic.
  • The Arts Achievement Awards Gala Award winners were celebrated for the first time on social media with a video tribute. (Gala was canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.)
  • Speaker Series was put on hold for the majority of the year.

2021

  • Advertising in A! Magazine was down by 70% over the year.
  • The Arts Achievement Awards Gala was canceled and award winners were celebrated online.
  • First online auction usingbetterworld.org
  • The First Virtual Speaker Series program — interview with organizing and participating artists at the Bristol in Bloom festival.

2022

  • The arts and business communities rallied to support A! Magazine financially, with record numbers of ads in many months.
  • The Arts Achievement Awards Gala was held for the first time in two years. Several sponsorships and a grant from theMassengill-DeFriece Foundation made this the most successful gala. It was also the first gala with video presentations in addition to live speeches.
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