Creating with Heart: An Interview with Harlequine Clay

“Together we can create something truly beautiful for our community.” – Harlequine Clay

For our very first video interview, the Created to Create Coalition had the honor of sitting down with Harlequine Clay, founder of Creative Hearts Collective (CHC). Her vision, passion, and commitment to the arts shine through every word, and we’re thrilled to share her story with you.

A Spark of Purpose

Harlequine Clay is the visionary behind Creative Hearts Collective, a community-centered organization dedicated to performing and visual arts education. CHC’s mission is clear: “to cultivate creative hearts through creative arts.”

Currently, CHC offers voice, piano, and theatre lessons, with plans to expand into visual arts classes soon.

The Arts Belong to Everyone

At the heart of CHC is a simple belief: the arts are for everyone.

“Creative Hearts Collective believes that the arts are for every age, background, or appearance: embracing all people and talents.”

The organization works to ensure that the creative arts are not only accessible but also celebrated throughout Wilson County.

A Night to Remember

This past spring, CHC hosted its first fundraiser on May 31, 2025—and it was a resounding success.

The showcase brought together an incredible variety of art forms:

• A gallery curated by three Middle Tennessee visual artists

• Performances of poetry, contemporary dance, clogging, and classical ballet on pointe

• Singers, actors, and instrumentalists of all levels

With performers ranging in age from 9 to 56, the event beautifully embodied CHC’s mission of bringing people together through creativity.

Looking Toward Tomorrow

Harlequine envisions CHC becoming a hub for collaboration in the years ahead.

“Over the next 5 years, Creative Hearts Collective hopes to collaborate with other organizations for shows, galleries, productions, and engage in community outreach for accessibility to the arts.”

She highlights groups like Audience of One and Belamour Ballet, already making an impact in Wilson County, as examples of the kind of partnerships CHC is excited to pursue.

Ways to Get Involved

CHC offers weekly classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in Lebanon, making arts education locally available.

Opportunities to support include:

• Joining the team: CHC is hiring a theatre or visual arts teacher and a marketing manager.

• Sponsoring students: Donations help create accessibility by covering class costs for students in need.

CHC also stays connected through all major social platforms as Creative Hearts Collective.

Excellence as a Guiding Light

Harlequine shared a piece of wisdom from her mom that continues to inspire her leadership:

“As you lead and build your organization, be so excellent that if the President of the United States shows up, you would not be embarrassed.”

That call to excellence, along with her mantra “no one person is meant to do it all,” fuels both her leadership and CHC’s growing success.

And while she is deeply rooted in the creative arts, Harlequine’s curiosity continues to expand. She dreams of exploring pottery, tap dancing, and voice acting—experiences she hasn’t yet tried but hopes to in the future.

Words to Carry Forward

Harlequine’s passion for the arts is as contagious as it is inspiring. She leaves us with this reminder:

“Together we can create something truly beautiful for our community, and I can't wait to see where this journey takes us. The arts are essential. The arts are essential. And I just want to thank everyone so far for your support, for believing in the power of the arts to bring people together. Let's keep creating and remember that all that you do, make sure that you create, make sure that you continue to be artistic. Because I truly believe that to this day arts are absolutely amazing and the arts is what makes the world beautiful.”

— Harlequine Clay, 2025