Arts

At UT, Ann Marie Pace (’11) took the first steps to discovering her voice and her identity. She’s focusing that experience into writing and directing films to help young people feel seen and heard.

She’s been nominated for an Oscar and won an Emmy for her work telling the hard stories of her Appalachian home. Now, filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon is planting roots at UT to help young storytellers find their own voices.

Volunteers bear the torch that lights the way for others. This passion to lead and serve is evident in the ways Vols roll up their sleeves and work to make our Appalachian home the best it can be.

On the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote, a Tennessee mural project is giving an all-woman roster of artists a canvas to freely express themselves—and inspiring a new generation of girls.

Scholar and sociologist Enkeshi El-Amin (’19) creates a welcoming space for Black makers in Knoxville and builds bridges for the good of her adopted community.

With her Met Opera National Council Auditions victory, soprano Alexandria Shiner (’16) hit a high note.

From folk to country and rock to opera, UT alumni span the music industry. Find out more about these Volunteers who write and perform songs, top the charts, and tour the world making music. We’ve even put together a Spotify playlist of some tunes for you to enjoy.

For many people, pursuing an art degree equates to the concept of a struggling artist. Alumni from the School of Art are breaking this stereotype with impressive careers in a…

Cycerli Ash (’10) was a Division I athlete who followed her dream of acting to the University of Tennessee. Now, she’s an actress on the rise who takes the time to give back to her alma mater.

The works of notable women artists highlight the incredible diversity of the McClung Museum’s collections and enable the museum’s mission of educating and empowering our community.