University of Tennessee Martin introduces new Center for Southern Art

The University of Tennessee Martin is opening a new Center for Southern Art, housed within the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts. The new center, which aims to shine a light on the region’s rich arts culture, is an effort of the partnership between the university’s Department of Visual and Theatre Arts and College of Humanities and Fine Arts. 

According to an article on the University of Tennessee Martin’s website, Clay Palmer, an artist and lecturer, will be serving as the director of the new center. Speaking of the center and its goals, Palmer is quoted as saying, “The Department of Visual and Theatre Arts at UT Martin has long been known for its support and investment in new and existing artists in the region, and the Center for Southern Art is the next step in building on that foundation. We’re building something that both the local campus community and the greater Southern region will benefit from. As the Center for Southern Art begins its work, we are looking to connect with potential advisory board members who share our commitment to advancing the visibility and impact of Southern art. Their guidance and advocacy will be vital in shaping opportunities for students, artists and communities across the region and beyond.”

Palmer will be working closely with Dr. Jeffrey Bibbee, who serves as the dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, and Sarah Haig, who serves as the chair of the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts, to develop the center. He is also working with the Faculty Guidance Council, which consists of faculty members from around the university whose curriculum and interests are in line with the mission of the center. 

Palmer has a five-year plan for the development of the center. Within the center’s first year, he plans to solidify its governance, policies, and branding. He also plans to set up collaborations with other institutions and begin the center’s inaugural programming. In the second year, Palmer plans to expand programming and increase opportunities for students and the community to become involved with the center. Additionally, Palmer hopes to establish a pilot acquisition program, pursue grants and other funding opportunities, establish temporary storage for art, and plan an educational conference on Southern art. By the fifth year of the center, Palmer hopes to have a new, permanent facility to move into.

Bibbee noted that the permanent location for the center will be part of a larger movement. He said, “The Center for Southern Art is part of a larger strategy in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts to make our campus a cultural and creative hub for West Tennessee.”

Speaking of his hopes for the center, Palmer said, “With a permanent art collection on campus comes new opportunities for growing our programs in the department and college, which in turn allows us to further prepare our students for the workforce by giving them additional valuable skills that can aid them in their future careers.”

For more information about the University of Tennessee Martin, visit the school’s website.