Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art

Art, exhibitions & programs: Cheekwood is a leading cultural destination for residents of middle Tennessee and visitors from across the world. During 2020, Cheekwood welcomed more than 330,000 visitors. Cheekwood showcases both significant temporary exhibitions as well as curated exhibitions from its 7,000-piece permanent collection which focuses on american Art from the centennial (1875-1940) and outdoor sculpture. Cheekwood is accredited by the american alliance of museums, an honor that denotes operational and programmatic excellence, and is listed on the national register of historic places. During 2020, Cheekwood's hosted the chihuly at Cheekwood exhibition. The blockbuster exhibition featured multi-media artist dale chihuly's monumental sculptures throughout the historic estate, both in the gardens and galleries. The following is a description of Cheekwood's normal public programs and events, all of which were cancelled or otherwise significantly impacted by the covid-19 pandemic during 2020. Public programs feature live music and dance performances, hands-on workshops, and public lectures. Interactive Art and educational activities for individuals and families complement permanent and traveling exhibitions, both indoors and outdoors; programs include drop-in Art activities, youth Art classes, storytime, lectures on art/garden topics, and youth summer camps. Thursday nights out and songwriters nights provide summertime programming. In the fall, japanese moon viewing and the el dia de los muertos festival celebrate diverse cultural arts and traditions. Additionally, students and educators participate in free school tours and outreach programs, which include destination Cheekwood, Art outreach, and Cheekwood explorations, among others. Gardens: a three-time voted usa today top ten Garden, Cheekwood's 55-acre Botanical Garden has also garnered national acclaim and leading recognition as both a level 4 arboretum and center of excellence by the Tennessee urban forestry council. Cheekwood is home to the nationally accredited dogwood collection, a historic boxwood Garden with 43 varieties of boxwood in a bryant fleming-designed landscape, 16 acres of woodlands and a half-acre of waterways, 12 display gardens, Botanical collections including 120 species of trees, 250 taxa of daffodils, 250 taxa of daylilies, more than 250 dogwood plants, and approximately 25,000 annuals within the gardens. Four seasonal festivals showcase the beauty of Cheekwood's landscape and gardens with seasonal Garden displays, related public programs, creative and educational opportunities, and live performances. A radiant display of tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils during the spring "Cheekwood in bloom" festival dazzle visitors with over 150,000 blooming bulbs. Cheekwood harvest offers a pumpkin display and two pumpkin houses, a community scarecrow display, and 5,000 chrysanthemums spread across the Cheekwood grounds. Winter activities include holiday lights (5th annual), a spectacular display that includes more than 1 million lights along a one-mile barrier free path. The program saw record attendance again in 2020 and included real reindeer, s'mores pits, a towering poinsettia tree, and festive decorations inside the Cheekwood mansion. Also during the winter, Cheekwood hosts an annual orchid show within the mansion.during 2020, Cheekwood opened the new bracken foundation children's Garden. This two-acre Garden focuses on family programming, including the literary, performing, and visual arts. The children's Garden features a turtle habitat, studio and performance pavilions, adventure paths, water-play areas and a living library. Cheekwood also completed substantial renovations and enhancements of the ann and monroe carell jr. family sculpture trail and the blevins japanese Garden, which are two of Cheekwood's most beloved gardens. The gardens reopened in spring 2020, complete with new accessible pathways, enhanced lighting, and significant enrichments to the plant collections.history: completed in 1932, Cheekwood was the family home of leslie and mable cheek. Cheekwood's historic mansion is recognized together with its 55-acre landscape as one of the finest examples of an american country place era estate in the nation. During recent years, the institution undertook significant research to inform the historic refurnishing of the mansion. This major initiative entailed refurnishing and restoration of key interiors within the neo-georgian residence to reflect the 1930s era of its origins. The history of the Cheekwood mansion is brought to life through interpretation, public programming, and exhibitions informed and inspired by this unique historic asset in nashville. Cheekwood also completed the significant renovation of the frist learning center during 2018, which includes updated meeting spaces and Art studios as well as historical interpretation of the horse stables and tack room used by the cheek family during their time on the estate. Exhibition materials also highlight the historical connection between Cheekwood and maxwell house coffee.

Restaurant, rentals & gift shop: the rentals program service area provides facilities to further open Cheekwood to the public through the hosting of events on the grounds. Weddings, receptions, corporate dinners, family outings and meetings were set amidst the sweeping gardens and historic buildings of Cheekwood's beautiful campus. Cheekwood is a premier nashville event destination. Cheekwood also offers cafe 29, the mansion gift shop, and Garden gift shop, which provide visitors an opportunity to enjoy delicious food and beverages and take away Garden and museum-inspired souvenirs of their day's experience.