FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Defenders of the Watkins College of Art Community are pleased to present IN GOOD FAITH: HOW NOT TO SAVE AN ART SCHOOL, an exhibition dedicated to the current crisis at Watkins College of Art. 

Several days ago, the President of Watkins, Joseph Kline, announced that our school will be absorbed by Belmont University after several years of financial strain. These are institutions with very different values and aspirations. 

Watkins has been central to the arts in Nashville for many years now, and sadly, its future contributions are now in question. 

These decisions were made without consulting Watkins students, faculty, or staff, and no consideration was given to the vast differences between Belmont and Watkins. The presumption of leadership seemed to be that people who have devoted years of their lives to an art school could be herded elsewhere like heads of cattle.  

This exhibition will highlight the failures that have led Watkins to this point and the implications of this decision for the future of its students, staff, and faculty as well as for the future of the arts in Nashville. 

What will this mean for the artistic freedom of our students? What will it mean for members of our LGBTQ community? What will it mean for the art scene in Nashville? 

The exhibition will appear in a rental truck adjacent to the Packing Plant at 507 Hagan Street on Saturday, February 1st, 6-9pm.