CMA Foundation Receives Funding For “Tennessee: State of the Arts” From Scott & Sandi Borchetta’s Music Has Value

THE CMA FOUNDATION RECEIVES CRITICAL FUNDING  FOR ITS “TENNESSEE: STATE OF THE ARTS” INITIATIVE  FROM SCOTT & SANDI BORCHETTA’S MUSIC HAS VALUE 

Music Has Value Pledges $120,000 to Music Education Programs  in Multiple Tennessee Public School Districts

The CMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, has announced a partnership with Scott and Sandi Borchetta’s Music Has Value to receive additional financial support for its Tennessee: State of the Arts initiative. Music Has Value, which provides funding to nonprofit organizations that support those who make music, aspire to make music, and access and appreciate music, has pledged $120,000 to provide direct support to music education programs in multiple Tennessee public school districts. Selected districts will be announced throughout 2023. 

Initially developed in 2018, the CMA Foundation’s Tennessee: State of the Arts initiative is a first-of-its-kind statewide arts education landscape analysis. Through a public-private partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education and Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, the CMA Foundation provides no-cost needs assessments to all Tennessee public school district’s arts program. The CMA Foundation’s goal with Tennessee: State of the Arts is to develop an understanding of the criteria necessary for establishing high-quality arts education programs and to discover barriers affecting the quality of arts education programming. As of today, 40 district assessments have been completed, offering the CMA Foundation insight into challenges that exist in the classroom, which includes scheduling, equipment needs, limited classroom space, teacher shortages and more.  

“Tennessee: State of the Arts is a uniquely positioned partnership with the CMA Foundation, Tennessee Department of Education, and the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. The collective’s impact is only possible through the generosity of philanthropists and donors,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “We are grateful that Scott and Sandi see the value in State of the Arts and our commitment to solving the challenges that our Tennessee students are faced with regarding accessibility to music and arts education. Scott and Sandi know that tackling resource gaps can lead to achievement gains when we can address the challenges through the data collected. Information is power and we are excited to see their funds at work.” 

“Scott and I are honored to join forces with the CMA Foundation, Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, and the Tennessee Department of Education to support Tennessee: State of The Arts,” says Sandi Borchetta, Co-Founder of Music Has Value. “We have been blessed to partner with organizations both large and small over the past eight years. We aim to celebrate organizations and individuals making a difference in music education and music therapy. Supporting the arts here in our home state is a perfect extension for Music Has Value.” 

Studies continue to show that music and the arts are a critical component to overall student success and readiness. As the only state in the country offering this type of needs assessment, the CMA Foundation hopes to inform decision making, planning, and development of resources. For any district that hasn’t signed up for a no-cost needs assessment, visit CMAFoundation.org/state-of-the-arts. The deadline for districts to apply is Monday, May 1. The study is free and offered to any public school district in the state that would like to participate.