AEC's Top 10 for 2009
What a Year!
As 2009 comes to a close, AEC is looking back at what an extraordinary year this has been for our little organization. We reached a record-breaking 63,000 people and worked with over 200 volunteers. We welcomed two new staff members and seven new board members. Our economic impact on the Chattanooga business community was close to $2.5 million!
We are thankful for the opportunity to provide another year of valuable arts experiences for the Chattanooga community. Here are some of our favorite moments of 2009!
- Book lovers from over 30 states watched as Wendell Berry received the Cleanth Brooks Medal for Lifetime Achievement at the AEC Conference on Southern Literature
- A standing-room-only crowd of proud parents and teachers gathered at the Tivoli Theatre for the Young Southern Student Writers Awards.
- Kaiulani Lee's breathtaking performance of A Sense of Wonder made a lasting impression on audience members at the UTC Fine Arts Center.
- The 10th Annual AEC Culture Fest moved to the Chattanooga Market for an even bigger and better celebration of diversity through the arts.
- Filmmaker Josh Tickell premiered his documentary Fuel weeks before its theatrical release.
- The Back Row Film Series event Tableland was AEC's first "family style dinner and movie."
- Author Allen Wier inspired students to read and write at Orchard Knob Elementary School.
- Cherokee storyteller Gayle Ross engaged students in three elementary schools and at Chattanooga State.
- The AEC Independent Film Series moved to the beautiful new Majestic Theatre.
- Our television shows Point of View and First View enriched audiences with current events and arts education activities at a new date and time.
Here are some of our favorite photos from 2009.
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Author, Kids Participate in Memorable Discussion
Although it was his first experience working with elementary-age students, Knoxville author Allen Wier quickly learned that 10-year-olds can be just as engaged and inquisitive as the college students in his writing classes at UTK.
"I was impressed by how smart and articulate the students were," Wier said, following his March 10th visit to school as part of the AEC Conference on Southern Literature's Education Enrichment program.
Gathered around the award-winning novelist in the school library, the students "peppered Wier with questions," as observer Judy Frank described. They wanted to know why he became a writer, and when he started to write.
Wier emphasized the importance of storytelling in preserving history, and encouraged students to "find a way to make your dreams come true."
Wier's visit was the first of 20 school visits that will take place as part of the Conference on Southern Literature. The rest will happen during the Conference on April 2 and 3.
"This outreach is an important outgrowth of the conference," said AEC executive director Susan Robinson. "The young people are excited to be able to talk to professional writers and to hear them read from their books. This experience helps encourage a love for literature that the students can enjoy and benefit from all their lives."
Read Allen's Speech to the Chattanooga Writer's Guild, 3/10/09
