Opening our hearts to the valuable artistic traditions of the world is a cornerstone of all Global Education Center programming.  Bolokada Conde is just one of many international artists who have visited the  Center over the years. In the summer of 2011, he spent a week’s residency with students enrolled in our Summer Multicultural Arts Camp for Children and Youth, sharing the djembe traditions of Guinea with a select group of  young drummers.

Since 1997, the Global Education Center has hosted more than 100 international artists, many of whom are considered to be masters in their culturally unique art forms. These educational residencies, master classes and performances with renowned artists are made possible with touring grants from government agencies such as Tennessee Arts Commission, South Arts, National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities Tennessee. Through creation funding from Metro-Nashville Arts Commission and foundations such as Cracker Barrel, the Center has partnered with some of its resident artists to create original works that are premiered in Nashville then toured nationally. In addition, the Global Education Center presents the diversity of our local artists through its ARTS ACCESS Concert Series, Global Cabaret Music Series and Line Breaks Literary Arts Series, as well as at local and regional festivals and at schools throughout Middle Tennessee and beyond.