Christie Burns, founder of the Folk School of Chattanooga, demonstrates the hammered dulcimer at the 2010 Chattitup event.
Contributed photo by Rodney Van ValkenbergArtsChatt will host its second annual Chattiup open-mic night in the Chattanooga Theatre Centre Main Stage lobby Tuesday, March 15 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
"It's an opportunity for individuals to get up in an open-mic atmosphere for a couple of minutes to share their skills and talents with the community," said Kim Jackson, event organizer and Bill Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute graduate, or "Holmie." "Any individual in the community can sign up to present or show or talk about their art."
ArtsChatt was started by Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga's Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute alumni steering committee with a goal of informing educated, interested people in Chattanooga about the arts and how they can can become involved.
All the group's events are open to the public and include monthly meetings at Big River Grill downtown as well as an annual open-mic night.
Jackson said ArtsChatt defines art broadly, and the presentations already scheduled feature non-traditional art forms such as tai chi and quilting in addition to more typical open-mic performances.
"People should attend this event if they are at all interested in finding out what individual artists and art-centered organizations are doing in their community," she said.
This Chattitup will focus more on individual presenters than the first year's event, which featured predominantly representatives from organizations such as Chattanooga Symphony and Opera and Hunter Museum of American Art.
"Organizations have opportunities throughout the year to connect with the community, but for individuals there's not as much of a platform," said Jackson. "Whereas most open mics around town are focused on music or poetry, Chattitup is a mixed bag of anything arts-related you would want to share as an individual."
Spots are limited and artists are encouraged to sign up soon.
Admission, food, drinks and parking are free for the evening of entertainment, which also includes performances by a local drum circle during interludes.
Jackson said attending artists are encouraged to bring promotional materials in order to network and get the word out about their work and events in which they are involved.
ArtsChatt, which was modeled after Greenspaces' "Green Drinks" events, meets at Big River Grill downtown the third Tuesday of the month for drinks and arts-focused conversation and networking.
For more information about the event, e-mail peggy@boyd-design-group.com.