MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University is celebrating 15 years of MTSU Arts, the university’s unified identity for its visual and performing arts programs.
Established in 2011, MTSU Arts brings together the Department of Art and Design, Department of Theatre and Dance and School of Music within the College of Liberal Arts. Through exhibitions, concerts, theatrical productions, dance performances and other events, students and faculty share their work with audiences on campus and across Middle Tennessee.
Over the past 15 years, MTSU Arts has provided a shared identity for those programs while helping connect student artists and performers with audiences, patrons and community partners.
“For 15 years, under the MTSU Arts banner, we have been able to elevate and celebrate the extraordinary talent, hard work, and dedication of our students, staff, and faculty in the visual and performing arts,” said Leah Tolbert Lyons, dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
She continued, “These exhibitions and performances are not only an integral part of our students’ educational experiences, but they also contribute to the cultural life of our campus and surrounding community.”
Support from the community has been part of MTSU Arts since its beginning. Ascend Federal Credit Union has partnered with MTSU Arts since 2011, providing sustained support for its programs and students.
The relationship expanded in 2022 with the creation of the annual Ascend Federal Credit Union MTSU Arts Outstanding Student Scholarships. The scholarships recognize continuing students in art and design, music, dance and theatre who demonstrate promise in their disciplines and contribute to their communities.
“Our relationship with MTSU Arts reflects Ascend’s longstanding commitment to education and the communities we serve,” said Ascend Federal Credit Union President Matt Jernigan.
He continued, “We have been proud to be part of MTSU Arts since its beginning and to see generations of students develop their talents and share their work with the community. Celebrating 15 years gives us an opportunity to recognize what MTSU Arts has accomplished and look forward to what comes next.”
A fall season of MTSU Arts
Fifteen years after its launch, MTSU Arts continues to provide audiences with a full schedule of exhibitions, concerts and performances. Upcoming fall events include:
Art and Design
- 2026 Faculty Biennial Exhibition, through Oct. 3 at Todd Art Gallery
- Mid-South Sculpture Alliance Membership Exhibit Oct. 14 – Nov. 7 at Todd Art Gallery
- Studio Art B.F.A. Candidates Exhibit Nov. 14 – Dec. 2 at Todd Art Gallery
Theatre and Dance
- “Jack’s Tale,” Oct. 1–4 at Tucker Theatre
- “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” Nov. 5–8 at Tucker Theatre
- MTSU Fall Dance Concert, Nov. 19–21 at Tucker Theatre
Music
- SOAL, TEBA and Schola Cantorum Concert, Oct. 8, Hinton Hall
- Wind Ensemble Concert, Nov. 6, Hinton Hall
- MTSU Symphony Orchestra Concert, Nov. 22, Hinton Hall
Find details on these events and others at https://www.mtsu.edu/mtsuarts.
Community involvement also plays an important role in supporting MTSU Arts.
Members of the MTSU Arts Patrons Society help fund scholarships for workshops and conferences, guest artist workshops, student exhibitions, theatre productions, concerts and student music recording projects.
Membership in the Patrons Society is open for the 2026-27 season, offering community members an opportunity to support student artists and performers and the educational experiences that complement their work. Information about joining or renewing a membership is available at https://www.mtsu.edu/mtsuarts/patronssociety/.
“The connection between our students and our patrons is one of the things that makes MTSU Arts special,” said Meredith Kerr, development director for the College of Liberal Arts. “Our patrons see these students grow as artists and performers, and they get to experience the results firsthand in our galleries, concert halls and theaters. Their involvement helps create experiences for our students that extend well beyond the classroom.”
— Mike Davis ([email protected])
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