MNPS, OZ ARTS NASHVILLE AND GRAY LINE TENNESSEE PARTNER TO OFFER FAMILIES A COMPLIMENTARY DAY OF FUN, CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AT ‘FAMILY DAY AT OZ’

New ‘Field Trip’ Program Offering Free Tickets and Transportation for Students from PENCIL Partner Schools Nears Early Sell-Out for Family Day at OZ

NASHVILLE, TENN. – August 12, 2019 – OZ Arts Nashville’s upcoming Family Day has always been one of the nonprofit contemporary arts center’s most popular events of the year, however, many Davidson County families have been unable to attend the event due to cost and transportation issues. A brand -new partnership between Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), Gray Line Tennessee and OZ Arts Nashville is changing that situation for 250 Nashvillians, who will now be able to attend this popular indoor-outdoor arts festival free of charge.

“Our students and families will have access to transformational arts activities and experience connections between arts and technology through the OZ Arts Family Day,” said Jeff Smith, MNPS director of visual and performing arts. “We deeply appreciate the partnership of OZ Arts in providing this opportunity and the support of Gray Line of Tennessee in eliminating the transportation barrier for many of our families. This aligns with our vision of providing equitable access to arts education opportunities that demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning.”

“We are pleased to support MNPS and OZ Arts with this important opportunity for families with school children to enjoy this day of creative activities together,” said Chuck Abbott, CEO of Gray Line Tennessee. “This is one of many educational partnerships Gray Line is proud to support throughout the year.”

The seventh-annual event will take place on Saturday, August 17, 2019, and features multimedia artist Miwa Matreyek, the Sankofa Drum and Dance ensemble, Grupo Balança, and much more.

The theme of this year’s indoor-outdoor extravaganza for young people and their families is “Technology in the World.”

Here are a few details about the program:

There will be five pick-up/drop-off sites at PENCIL Partner schools around Davidson County — each school representing a district — one standard-sized bus will be at each location
Maximum total bus capacity 250 (and as of Aug. 8, 239 people have registered to attend)
Buses with families arrive at OZ Arts for the start Family Day
Buses stay at OZ Arts in designated parking area until they return the students and families back to original pick-up sites in the afternoon
Nicky’s Coal Fired is donating lunch for all MNPS families participating in the program

OZ Arts Director of Community Engagement Rosie Forrest said, “We couldn’t be happier about this new opportunity to connect MNPS students and their families to this annual summer event at OZ. By joining forces with Gray Line TN and Nicky’s Coal Fired, we are able to go beyond free tickets – to think about the entirety of the experience from start to finish. Complimentary transportation has been the real game changer, and we’re thrilled to see such enthusiastic and immediate response.”

Tickets to Family Day are $5 per person to the public and are on sale now at www.OZArtsNashville.org. OZ Arts has lowered its overall ticket pricing this season to increase the number of people it can reach and inspire through its various arts presentations and experiences.

“I love that Family Day at OZ offers a place for kids to join their families and friends at our campus for an entertaining day of arts activities, togetherness and learning,” said CEO of OZ Arts Tim Ozgener. “It really is a joy to see people of all ages to engage in creative arts and end-of-summer fun. I’m particularly excited about the technology theme this year as that theme is carried out through most of our upcoming season.”

Audiences of all ages will enjoy a wide variety of diverse arts experiences, including Nashville-based drum, dance, and music ensembles, as well as exciting special guest artists. In addition to thrilling performances, children and parents alike can engage with a host of inventive technology and science-based activities that explore how we are connected across the globe.

Special guest artists include animator and performer Miwa Matreyek, who creates phantasmagorical performances mixing live performance with animation to explore environmental themes with visual splendor. Local dance and music companies Grupo Balança, Sankofa Drum and Dance, and others perform and lead workshops.

There will be dozens of interactive activity stations for kids to enjoy featuring technology and art for hands-on fun for all ages.

In addition to Grupo Balança, Sankofa Drum and Dance, and Miwa Matreyek, other participants this year include:

the Adventure Science Center
The Wond’ry at Vanderbilt

Grupo Balança is participating in Family Day as part of a collaboration between OZ Arts and the Global Education Center.

Over the last six years, this annual event has featured several intriguing themes and partnerships. Past Family Day at OZ themes have included collaborations with the Adventure Science Center centered around a science theme; a DJ party with a blend of Latin salsa, urban hip-hop and jazz-funk; “art-in-sports” themes with a pop-up skate park and BMX stunt show; and an environmental emphasis that encouraged participants to create sculpture with discarded materials. This year’s “Technology and the World” theme offers many creative opportunities for learning and entertainment.

About OZ Arts Nashville

Since opening in 2014, OZ Arts Nashville, a 501(c)(3) contemporary arts center, has changed the cultural landscape of the city. Housed in the former C.A.O. cigar warehouse owned by Nashville’s Ozgener family, OZ Arts, under the artistic leadership of Mark Murphy, brings world-class performances and art installations to the city, and gives ambitious local artists opportunities to work on a grand scale. The flexible 10,000 square-foot, column-free venue, nestled amidst five acres of artfully landscaped grounds, is continually reconfigured to serve artists’ imaginations, and to challenge and inspire a diverse range of curious audiences.

OZ Arts regularly engages the community for participation with visiting artists and artworks – either directly, through school visits, workshops, master classes, school performances and/or curated programs led by local teaching artists. In addition, OZ Arts founded a program called OZ School Days, a daylong, multi-arts program presented in partnership with Centennial Performing Arts Studios that aims to engage students aged 5 – 15 years old on days when Metro Nashville Public Schools are out of session (ex: Columbus Day, Presidents Day).

For more information, please visit http://www.ozartsnashville.org/.

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Media Contact

Amy A. Atkinson

Amy Atkinson Communications on behalf of OZ Arts Nashville

Cell – (615) 305-8118

Email: amy@amyacommunications.com