Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts

Hello, talented students and supportive families of Tennessee! If you're a rising 11th or 12th-grade high school student with a deep passion and exceptional talent in the arts, the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts (GSFTA) is an extraordinary opportunity you won't want to miss. Located right here in Murfreesboro, this highly selective summer intensive program provides a challenging, high-intensity, and profoundly enriching experience for the state's most gifted young artists. It’s more than just a summer camp; it’s a pre-professional immersion into the world of creative expression, designed to push students to their artistic and intellectual limits.

Established in 1984 by then-Governor Lamar Alexander, the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts has a proud history of cultivating the next generation of artists. For over four decades, it has brought together hundreds of bright and motivated high schoolers from every corner of our state, offering them the chance to learn from outstanding visual and performing artists and educators. Many of these faculty members hold terminal degrees from the most demanding arts institutions globally, ensuring that students receive instruction of the highest caliber. This commitment to excellence makes GSFTA a truly unique and impactful program within our great state.

The core philosophy of GSFTA is to provide a rounded educational experience. While intensely focused on a student's major area of concentration, the program also exposes participants to other art disciplines through guest lectures, exhibits, concerts, and films. This interdisciplinary approach broadens horizons, enhances critical thinking, and helps students understand the profound ways art connects to life and culture. For any high-achieving student in Tennessee with a serious interest in the arts, the Governor's School for the Arts offers an unparalleled opportunity for growth, exploration, and the development of lifelong mentoring relationships with accomplished professionals. It's a chance to immerse oneself in creativity and prepare for competitive arts communities beyond high school.

The program is highly competitive, with typically over 1400 students vying for approximately 230 available scholarships each January. Students are selected based on auditions or portfolio submissions and interviews, demonstrating true talent and motivation. Those who earn a spot not only gain invaluable artistic training but also often receive college credit, a significant advantage as they plan their future academic and professional careers. The experience at GSFTA helps students hone their skills, expand their perceptions, and prepare for success in the competitive world of the arts.

The Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts is hosted at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), with its primary address listed as 1439 Faulkinberry Dr, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, USA. This location in Murfreesboro offers an ideal setting for an intensive summer residency program. MTSU provides a comprehensive campus environment with excellent facilities for dance, music, theatre, visual arts, and filmmaking, including studios, performance spaces, and dormitories for residential students.

Murfreesboro's central location within Tennessee makes it reasonably accessible from all three grand divisions of the state. Whether students are traveling from East, Middle, or West Tennessee, the city is a major hub with well-maintained road networks. This accessibility is crucial for a statewide program that draws top talent from various regions. The campus setting allows students to live and learn in a focused environment, simulating a collegiate experience, which is an added benefit for those considering higher education in the arts. While on campus, students have access to university amenities, contributing to a safe and enriching residential experience during the program.

• Dance Program: An intensive multifaceted program focusing on dance as a means of self-awareness and a fundamental form of communication, within a community of interdisciplinary arts professionals.
• Music Program (Vocal and Instrumental): Dynamic programs for students skilled in strings, wind ensemble, piano, and classical guitar. Vocal instruction includes both choral and opera technique.
• Filmmaking Program: Introduces students to both the theory and technical aspects of filmmaking, covering pre-production, production, and post-production, with hands-on experience in camera, lighting, sound, and editing.
• Theatre Program: Provides dedicated and focused study in all areas of theatrical studies, with an emphasis on the process of creating live theatre, offering opportunities to explore, question, and grow.
• Visual Art Program: Seeks to provide an understanding of how humanity expresses ideas through visual art, facilitates technical skill development, and acquaints students with career opportunities in the field.
• College Credit: Students who complete the program are awarded three hours of college credit, transferable to many institutions.
• Residential Experience: Students live on campus in dormitories, providing an immersive and collegiate environment.
• Interdisciplinary Exposure: Required evening programs, guest lectures, exhibits, concerts, and films expose students to other art disciplines.

• Highly Selective Program: Only the brightest and most talented rising 11th and 12th graders from across Tennessee are accepted through a competitive audition or portfolio review process.
• Expert Faculty: Instructors are outstanding visual and performing artists and educators from across the nation, many holding terminal degrees from prestigious institutions like Yale, Juilliard, and Eastman.
• Immersive Learning Environment: A three to four-week residential program that provides intensive, focused study in a chosen artistic discipline.
• Holistic Development: Beyond artistic skill, the program emphasizes critical thinking, expands perceptions, and encourages students to understand how art relates to life.
• College Preparation: Offers college credit and provides a realistic preview of collegiate-level arts study, preparing students for rigorous university programs and conservatories.
• Networking Opportunities: Students connect with highly accomplished faculty and a peer group of talented young artists from across the state, fostering valuable lifelong relationships.
• Rich History: Celebrating over 40 years of excellence, the GSFTA has a long-standing tradition of success and a strong alumni network.
• State-Sponsored Scholarship: The program is administered by the State Department of Education, providing scholarships that cover the cost of tuition, dorms, and meals (though some activity fees may apply).

Address: 1439 Faulkinberry Dr, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, USA

Phone: (615) 898-2223

Mobile Phone: +1 615-898-2223

For high school students and their families across Tennessee, the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts in Murfreesboro is an exceptionally suitable and highly coveted opportunity. Its profound suitability for locals stems from its unique mission to cultivate the most gifted and talented young artists right here in our state. This is not just any summer program; it is a state-sponsored initiative specifically designed to identify, nurture, and elevate Tennessee's artistic future. For parents seeking an unparalleled academic and artistic challenge for their high-achieving children, GSFTA stands as a beacon of excellence.

The program's residential nature, hosted at Middle Tennessee State University, offers an invaluable experience for rising juniors and seniors. It provides a taste of college life, preparing students for the academic rigor and independence required in higher education, especially for those considering arts conservatories or university programs. Living and learning alongside peers who share similar passions, and under the guidance of world-class faculty, creates a truly immersive and inspiring environment that few other programs can match. This intensive, focused study allows students to make significant strides in their chosen art form in just a few weeks.

Furthermore, the benefits extend beyond artistic mastery. Students gain three hours of college credit, a tangible advantage as they apply to universities. More importantly, they develop critical thinking skills, broaden their cultural perspectives through interdisciplinary exposure, and build a network of talented peers and professional mentors that can last a lifetime. This holistic development ensures that students emerge from GSFTA not just as better artists, but as more confident, well-rounded, and critically engaged individuals ready to make their mark.

The competitive application and audition process ensures that only the most dedicated and talented students from Tennessee are accepted, fostering a truly elite and inspiring cohort. This means your child will be learning among the very best young artists our state has to offer, pushing each other to new heights. For Tennessee families who believe in investing in their children's artistic talents and intellectual growth, the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts offers a transformative summer experience that is deeply rooted in our state's commitment to nurturing its brightest stars. It is, quite simply, one of the best opportunities available for our local artistic community.

Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts

1439 Faulkinberry Dr, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, USA