Jessye Norman School of The Arts

The Jessye Norman School of the Arts was founded in 2003 by the Rachel Longstreet Foundation, Inc. and was funded in large part during its first year by its namesake, the celebrated opera singer and Augusta native Jessye Norman, who has continued to be very involved in the life of the School in the intervening years. The School, a 501(c)(3) organization, offers courses in dance, drama, visual art, music, digital art, and creative writing on the same academic schedule as the Richmond County School District. The school was first housed at St. John United Methodist Church and drew its first students from Tubman Middle School. By 2007, there were students from nine different schools attending JNSA; currently the school serves students from 11 public and two private schools. In 2008, Augusta philanthropist Peter Knox donated the building at 739 Greene Street, near the Augusta Downtown Historic District, to the school. Phase 1 of the renovations were completed on the first floor in the spring of 2011. Enrollment has grown steadily each year, and the school now serves over 1200 students a year in all programming! The Jessye Norman School is funded by donations and grants.

The Mission of The Jessye Norman School of the Arts is to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through the transformative power of the arts. Our programs include a free after-school and summer camp program, a homeschool arts enrichment program, and community classes.