CARPE ARTISTA HITS ROUTE 66! Our Story Is Coming to The CW

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We have some exciting news to share: 

Carpe Artista is hitting the road—and our journey is coming to national television!

Carpe Artista has been selected as one of ten charitable organizations represented in The Great American Road Rally: Celebrity Edition, a new reality television series premiering Wednesday, September 16 on The CW.

The Great American Road Rally brings together celebrities, classic and specialty vehicles, challenges, unforgettable stops and charitable causes for an epic journey along historic Route 66. The series celebrates two remarkable milestones—the 250th anniversary of America and the 100th anniversary of Route 66—while shining a national spotlight on organizations making an impact in communities across the country.

And we're incredibly excited that Carpe Artista is along for the ride!

From Smyrna to Route 66

This summer, the Great American Road Rally traveled more than 2,000 miles along America's legendary Mother Road, and Carpe Artista's story traveled with it.

You may notice something familiar on one of the Rally's most eye-catching vehicles—a bright orange 2015 Challenger representing both Carpe Artista and the James Burton Foundation.

Right there on the car are the Carpe Artista logo and four words that have guided our organization for 15 years:

CHARACTER, CALLING, CRAFT, COMMUNITY

Those words traveled through communities across America along Route 66, introducing people to a mission that began right here in Smyrna, Tennessee.

For 15 years, Carpe Artista has worked to train and empower creative students with a goal of raising up the next generation of entertainment and arts industry leaders. Carpe is pulling these students from the margins where they struggle and giving them a safe place to develop their creative identity and connecting them with a tribe that gives them a place to belong.

Now we have an opportunity to share that mission with a much larger audience.

WE DIDN'T JUST SEND OUR LOGO

Carpe Artista staff and board members also had the opportunity to participate personally along the full route of the Rally as it traveled from Chicago to Santa Monica.

Along the way, we participated in Rally activities, met some remarkable people and had countless conversations about Carpe Artista--who we are, the young people and families we serve and why investing in our students, leaders and organization matters. There are some pretty amazing stories from those days on Route 66.

We are going to save a few of those for later.

Throughout the television season, we'll take you behind the scenes through this blog and share stories, photographs and experiences from the road--including some things you may not see on television.

HERE IS WHERE YOU COME IN

This isn't simply an opportunity for Carpe Artista to appear on national television. It's an opportunity for our entire community to come along for the ride. Throughout the season, we'll be inviting Smyrna, Rutherford County and friends throughout Middle Tennessee and beyond to:

WATCH the Great American Road Rally on The CW.

FOLLOW our behind-the-scenes-journey here on the Carpe Artista blog and through our social media.

SHARE Carpe Artista's story and help introduce new people to our mission.

ENGAGE with new opportunities to be announced throughout the show that can generate ongoing support for Carpe Artista.

GIVE to help us continue providing arts education, mentorship and opportunities for the next generation.

We'll also be announcing some special community watch parties where we can experience parts of the journey together.

THE ROAD TO IMPACT BEGINS SEPTEMBER 16

There's something especially meaningful about this opportunity happening in 2026.

    America is celebrating 250 years
    Route 66 is celebrating 110 years.
    Carpe Artista is celebrating 15 years of serving our community.

Earlier this summer, we celebrated America's musical story right here at home through our Simply Smyrna Celebration: Tennessee's America 250 Trail (follow the trail). Now a little piece of Smyrna--and the Carpe Artista story-- is traveling America's most famous road and onto televisions across the country. 

We can't wait to show you where this road takes us.

The Great American Road Rally: Celebrity Edition
Premieres Wednesday, September 16, 2026
On The CW

Watch. Follow. Share. Engage. Give.

And get ready to seize the road with Carpe Artista!

Originally posted by Carpe Artista via Locable