It’s a Nashville tradition to take in a performance of the Nashville Ballet’s version of the Nutcracker. But with ticket prices starting at $60, it’s simple math that it’s not an option for many Nashville families. Having just seen the show this past weekend, we were delighted to find out there is a Student Matinee performance of Nashville’s Nutcracker, giving more than 1,600 students from local Title I schools the chance to experience the joy that is this stunning live performance.

Additionally, the Nashville Ballet’s Holiday Magic program shares free tickets with community members who might not otherwise have the chance to experience a professional ballet performance. Through both programs, the Nashville Ballet expects to reach more than 3,500 students and community members this year, sparking joy and broadening horizons along the way.

For this month’s installment of Lawyers Give Back, a donation equivalent to a billable hour to a different organization cause every month, we are happy to support the Nashville Ballet and its efforts to expand access to the arts for all.

In a world filled with so many basic needs unfilled, it’s easy to put the arts on a philanthropic back burner. But initiatives like these remind us of the power of the arts—to inspire, to unite, or to simply entertain on a chilly December afternoon—and the essential role they play in any community.