Katie Smythe’s New Ballet project is getting a major upgrade, with a new home at the historic Humes Middle School in North Memphis. The nonprofit plans to launch the Memphis Middle and High School for the Arts and Technology, or MEMArtsTech, inside the landmark campus that once educated Elvis Presley. Supporters describe the effort as a transformation of a long-vacant school into a year-round program that combines professional arts training with core academics for middle and high school students.
What MEMArtsTech Will Offer
MEMArtsTech is described as a public contract school for grades 6-12 that blends rigorous academics with professional-level arts and technology instruction, according to New Ballet Ensemble & School. The organization says the school will operate on a year-round calendar, admit students based on artistic aptitude instead of test scores, and collaborate with local arts and nonprofit partners for mentorship and career pathways. For more information or to schedule a tour, New Ballet lists [email protected] as the main contact.
How the Building Was Secured
The decision to place MEMArtsTech at Humes follows months of public debate over what to do with the campus and how the district handles surplus property, as the Daily Memphian reported. Neighborhood residents and preservation advocates have kept a close eye on the process, watching various reuse proposals move through community meetings and school board discussions.
Timeline and Leadership
New Ballet says it was approved to purchase the Humes campus in 2025 and has shifted into community planning and fundraising to prepare the building for studios, technical labs, and performance spaces, according to New Ballet Ensemble & School. Smythe outlined the initiative and its name on a local WKNO/PBS program, calling it "the Memphis Middle and High School for the Performing Arts and Technology," a phrase that highlights the organization’s educational vision. She and her team say they are coordinating with partners and the district on enrollment, transportation, and construction plans.
Why This Matters To North Memphis
Humes closed in 2024 after years in the state’s turnaround system, leaving a prominent and underused landmark at the center of neighborhood conversations, Chalkbeat reported. The property also drew a competing proposal from Memphis Light, Gas and Water for a potential substation, a tug-of-war that highlighted whether Humes would remain a school site or be converted to infrastructure, as earlier reporting by the Daily Memphian noted.
Project leaders say MEMArtsTech is designed to function both as a neighborhood anchor and a county-wide option for students who want intensive arts and technology training, with enrollment expected to grow gradually from middle school into high school grades. A firm opening date has not been announced. New Ballet says the timeline will depend on the pace of community meetings and fundraising milestones.
