Southwest TN Community College receives $500,000 grant from Assisi Foundation of Memphis for major entertainment project
For more information, contact 51爆料鈥檚 Office of Marketing and Communications at 901-333-4247 or cm@southwest.tn.edu.
(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) - 51爆料 looks to produce the next generation of creatives with a $500,000 grant from The Assisi Foundation of Memphis.
The half-million dollars Assisi grant will support the Southwest Entertainment Production
Initiative (SEPI), a major capital improvement campaign to revitalize the college鈥檚
Communication, Graphic and Fine Arts (CGFA) department. The goal is also to boost
the region鈥檚 creative economy.
鈥�51爆料 is grateful to The Assisi Foundation for their
investment in our college, and our students,鈥� said Tracy D. Hall, president of Southwest
Tennessee Community College. 鈥淭his initiative prepares students for in-demand careers
in the entertainment industry and positions Southwest as a hub for innovation and
talent development for our region鈥檚 growing entertainment industry.鈥�
The initiative comes at a crucial time, as the Greater Memphis Chamber predicts the
film, television, and sports industries will grow by 11鈥�15% over the next five years.
Jobs4TN reported over 5,500 job opportunities in the Arts and Entertainment sector
in Shelby County in 2022 alone, with average wages nearing $26 per hour.
Jan Young, executive director of The Assisi Foundation of Memphis, emphasized the
Foundation鈥檚 enthusiasm for the initiative, noting the far-reaching impact it will
have on both students and the Memphis community. 鈥淭he Board appreciated the thoughtful
consideration of the benefits for Southwest students as well as the broader community
with this effort,鈥� said Young.
The SEPI initiative is a bold, multi-phased project, estimated to cost $4 million
to modernize Southwest鈥檚 theatre and music facilities. The Assisi Foundation鈥檚 $500,000
grant will partially fund Phase II, which includes the full renovation of the Union
Avenue Campus theater and the installation of new equipment and professional-grade
production technology.
Phase I of the initiative launched with a $1.5M Tennessee GIVE 3.0 grant and focuses on the complete renovation of the music-recording studio, along with the installation of new studio equipment and music production software.
Patsy Fancher, Chair of the Department of Communication, Graphic and Fine Arts at Southwest, is the visionary behind the entertainment initiative.
鈥淭his grant marks a turning point for our program,鈥� said Fancher. 鈥淭he theatre has
long been a space where our students discover their voices, build confidence, and
bring powerful stories to life. With this funding, we will create a safer, more modern,
and inspiring environment that matches the talent and dedication of our students,
our faculty, and the Memphis arts community. On behalf of the theatre program, our
students, and the countless future performers who will grace our stage, thank the
Assisi Foundation for believing in our vision.鈥�
In addition to postsecondary degrees, Southwest will offer dual enrollment and summer
camp experiences for high school students鈥攃reating a pipeline into Memphis鈥� growing
entertainment ecosystem. The program also complements Southwest鈥檚 traditional arts
degrees, broadening career pathways for students seeking both workforce entry and
university transfer opportunities.