Stewarding in the New Year
- Tennesseans for the Arts
- Jan 1
- 3 min read
"One Word" from Bryce McDonald, TN4ARTS President
Happy New Year Tennessee artists, advocates, and supporters! I pray that each of you had a wonderful close to your 2025 and are excited to launch into the brand-new year of 2026.
First, let me say THANK YOU for everything each of you contributed in the state of Tennessee last year. Through all the uncertainty that encircled our artistic community, each of you never stopped believing in and giving to the continuation of the artistic heartbeat of Tennessee.
As we kick off 2026 today, I'm reflecting on author Jon Gordon's "One Word" philosophy. The power of "One Word" is that it centers FOCUS: acting as a compass, keeping you centered and aligned with your purpose; it assists with SIMPLICITY: replacing overwhelming lists of resolutions with a single, powerful intention; and it guides GROWTH: fostering your trajectory throughout the year, helping you become who you want to be.
My "One Word" for 2026 is STEWARDSHIP.
The dictionary defines stewardship as follows:
The careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.
For me––both personally and professionally––it is all about oversight and sound decision making regarding the arts, my employees, my business, my family, and my community.
How can I be a stronger advocate of the power of the arts? How can we preserve and grow our audiences? What new steps will preserve and sustain the arts in my community and across Tennessee?
I hope that each of you will find your "One Word" for 2026 and allow it to focus, simplify, and grow yourself, your family, and your business.
2026, like any year, will bring it's own new set of challenges; four that I foresee are:
Funding Stability: Keeping grants, local support, and license plate revenues strong.
Awareness: Ensuring policymakers and citizens see the arts as essential––not optional.
Infrastructure: Strengthening facilities, staffing, and outreach in urban and rural areas.
Advocacy Fatigue: Engaging even when the policy process feels slow or uncertain.
But with challenge comes opportunities for STEWARDSHIP, and together we can act by doing these five things as an artistic and advocacy-centered community:
Strengthen Partnerships: Align arts with business, health, tourism, and education.
Amplify Stories: Share proof of how the arts transform lives and communities.
Build Membership & Voice: A unified voice is stronger.
Expand Access: Ensure every Tennessean, regardless of zip code, has access to the arts.
Celebrate Success: Recognize progress and use it to inspire continued support.
As President of TN4ARTS, I encourage each of you to commit to these three actions in 2026:
Be an Advocate––Speak up for the arts to local officials, schools, & community leaders.
Be a Connector––Bring artists and organizations together to collaborate and innovate.
Be a Storyteller––Share the story of how the arts matter in your life and your region.
If we all take these steps, we strengthen our collective voice and increase our chances of sustained success, both here in Tennessee and across the entire nation.
Be on the lookout for information regarding 2026 Arts Advocacy Day, March 12th. We are working on creating an inspiring experience for each of you. We will be sending information soon about the registration, hosting watch parties, and how to engage with your community.
The arts do more than entertain; they educate, they heal, they build community, they imagine possibilities. Together, across Tennessee, we have tremendous potential. Let's seize it and be the best stewards for Arts Advocacy in 2026! Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Bryce McDonald
