A! Magazine for the Arts Archive

The Renaissance of Kingsport

There is talk about a renaissance of the arts in Abingdon, Va., but Kingsport, Tenn., already has the term "Renaissance" locked up...

In This Issue

• Kingsport's Renaissance: Bonnie Macdonald Macdonald is administrator of the City of Kingsport's Cultural Arts Division and former president of the Arts Council of Greater Kingsport.
• Kingsport's Renaissance: John Vachon John and Angela Vachon are leading a "behind the scenes" movement for the arts in Kingsport, Tenn.
• Kingsport's Renaissance: What Others Are Saying 'Competition is not always a bad thing, especially when it comes to art.'
• Kingsport's Renaissance Center a Home for the Arts The Renaissance Center is home to many of Kingsport's arts organizations.
• Kingsport Art Guild Celebrates 60th Anniversary The Kingsport Art Guild (KAG) is celebrating its 60th Anniversary with a variety of events and activities.
• Kingsport's Sculpture Walk III Ten new sculptures have been installed along Broad and Main Streets in Kingsport, Tenn.
• Book Review — The Flying Fish: A Patriot's Story of the Cuban Revolution The Flying Fish combines page-turning suspense with detailed accounts of historical events. The authors are former East Tennessee State University professors.
• 2009 Rhythm & Roots Reunion Features Five-Year-Old Fiddler Among the youngest musicians featured at the 2009 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion will be Carson Peters from Piney Flats, Tenn..
• Festival's Signature Art Becomes Abingdon's Public Art Each year, the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon commissions an artist to create a signature piece to represent the Festival and its theme.

A! Extra

• Region's Tourism Growth Continues Tourists spent $311 million in Southwest Virginia in 2008, according to an economic impact statement released by state tourism officials.
• Festival Organizers Pleased with 2009 Rhythm & Roots Organizers of the ninth annual roots music festival said the number of festival-goers likely matched or exceeded last year's attendance of more than 31,000.
• The Paramount Foundation Receives 2009 Best of Bristol Award WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Paramount Foundation has received the 2009 Best of Bristol Award in the Performing Arts Center Production category from the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).
• Impact of State Budget Cuts on Virginia Arts Commission RICHMOND, VA — Virginia state government continues to face significant financial challenges as Governor Tim Kaine releases his budget reduction plan for the 2009-2010 year.
• Review: Laughter Runs Throughout 'The Foreigner' You might want to see The Foreigner twice at Barter Theatre – the second time to catch all the jokes you missed because you were laughing so hard the first time around.
• Talking Points for Meetings with Virginia Legislators Members of the Virginia House of Delegates stand for election in November 2009 and this is a good time to begin discussions with them.
• REMINDER: Tell Us Your Story! To celebrate our 15th Anniversary, A! Magazine for the Arts will feature "The Arts ~ Changing Lives!"
• Barter Theatre Inks Agreement with E&H College The theatre's relationship with the college will provide mentors, professional workshops, tours and other programs for the school.
• Bristol Carves Out Niche for Street Musicians
• Local Musician Stars in Romantic Comedy The Bristol, Tenn.-born Aaron Barr returns to the Mountain Empire on Sept. 7 with his film "Mow Crew" and the film's director Taylor Toole in tow.
• Master Craft Artist / Apprenticeship Program Announced Funding is available through the Tennessee Master Craft Artist / Apprenticeship Program, a cooperative partnership of the Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC) and the Tennessee Association of Craft Artists (TACA).
• Take A Tour of Sculpted Chairs at E&H College View a slide show of contemporary sculpted chairs on display in The 1912 Gallery at Emory & Henry College.
• Survey: Economic Impact on Artists Is the recession over for you, or still going strong? The Artists and the Economic Recession Survey invites you to share your experience.
• Videos about Virginia Arts Organizations on YouTube As part of Virginia's Arts Build Communities campaign, Virginians for the Arts (VFTA) is producing short YouTube videos showing ways that Virginia arts organizations contribute to their communities.
• ETSU Professor publishes Memoirs of a Storyteller Beech Mountain Man: The Memoirs of Ronda Lee Hicks is the title of a new book by Dr. Thomas G. Burton, East Tennessee State University professor emeritus of English and founder of the Appalachian, Scottish, and Irish Studies Program in ETSU's Cen
• DVD promotes ETSU Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music Program A new promotional video has been launched to highlight the academic and performance opportunities offered by East Tennessee State University's one-of-a-kind Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music Program.