Quick Facts
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Students who qualify receive full scholarships for professional after-school arts instruction.
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Our faculty are paid professionals with decades of experience in their fields.
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We operate out of the beautiful and spacious Church Street United Methodist Church in downtown Knoxville.
Our Mission
Our mission is to increase equity in arts education by providing tuition-free after school programs led by experienced, professional arts educators in a safe, supportive environment.
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Our programs help students build confidence, discover their passions, and thrive as lifelong learners.
Program Enrollment
Students in grades 3–12 may enroll in our programs during the summer application period (open now, due August 21st). Once enrolled, CSA students receive full-tuition scholarships, thanks to generous support of donors and public funding sources. CSA students are welcome to explore a variety of programs during their time at CSA and may enroll into as many as four classes per year.
Since 1992
Inspired by the vision of Rev. G. Carswell Hughs and a dedicated group of community leaders, CSA was established in 1992, led by founding Executive Director Jennifer Willard, to expand access to high-quality arts education in East Tennessee. As Tennessee's first educational arts organization to offer scholarship-funded instruction, CSA quickly earned full accreditation, becoming one of only three arts institutions in the state at the time to achieve that distinction.
"What CSA means to me is an organization that cares. Not just about my development as an artist, but my development as a person."
- CSA Alum Sharlita