We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tabitha Merritt. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tabitha below.
Tabitha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I graduated with an Accounting degree and Music minor, having participated in many theatrical and choral productions alongside studying business. After working in public accounting for most of a decade, my husband and I moved to the Upper Cumberland. Years later while raising our daughters, we came to Peachtree for art class and fell in love with the mission and heart of what they were about. Fast forward another 10 years, and after serving on the Board (since Peachtree is a 501 (c) 3 Board-administered non-profit), they asked me to step in as Executive Director when the founding Director retired. Since I had gone to college for music as well as business, this was a great fit because I am passionate about beauty and truth in the Arts while also loving business and stewardship.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Peachtree Learning Center was started as a ministry of a church meeting in Cookeville; it began with classes one day per week mostly for homeschool students. It grew from there into a hub of creative learning and all Fine Arts, now hosting classes all day every day, in 2 locations! The Cookeville location is in a 97-yr-old church building, and our Sparta location is in a 95-yr old building, both beautified with original stained glass and wood ceilings and floors. They are perfect for training children of all ages in Music, Art, Drama, Dance, Writing, Heritage Crafts, private lessons and many other creative learning pursuits!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
At Peachtree, we believe all our students carry creativity given to them by their Creator, who loves to see those gifts developed to bless their communities wherever they go and point them to Truth, Beauty and Goodness. Our goals are to train students to appreciate process, to learn patience with it, and use it to become excellent in whatever art or other paths they pursue as adults. Learning the process of any fine art informs creative thinking, improves the ability to solve problems, and even encourages people to build community in every sphere of life.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Being Executive Director means I can walk through all the classrooms any time and experience all the amazing ways our teachers continually find to impart skill and learning! We have an amazing team of teachers & staff, all who love students well & desire to share what they know. Most of our teachers are professional artists in their respective fields, with artistic businesses, musical acts, and shops all represented. They share a deep respect for students & what each can accomplish with good tools & good information. This means we have students who have graduated, gone into their adult lives, and then return either to bring their children as students or to share what they have learned as creatives in their chosen fields. It is a beautiful cycle emerging as Peachtree is now into 2nd and 3rd generation learning!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://peachtreelearningcenter.com
- Instagram: @peachtreelearningcenter
- Facebook: Peachtree Learning Center
- Youtube: Peachtree Learning Center
