THE STATE OF THE ARTS IN NASHVILLE: JUNE 2023
As you may have heard, it's budget season for Metro Nashville, and there is an urgent need for increased investment in the arts. Read below to learn more about why your support is needed!
Nashville is lagging behind peer cities in investment in the arts.
Despite being "Music City," and "Athens of the South," Nashville underinvests in its arts community compared to peer cities like Austin, Cleveland, and Phoenix. When you factor in inflation, the city’s investment in the arts has actually decreased over time.
Thrive funding requests have increased 600% in one year.
Thrive connects artists with organizations to create investments, cultural connections, and transformations in their communities. Forty-six applications (out of 131 total applications, or approx. 1/3) are led by and directly supporting Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
Artists are being displaced from Nashville at an alarming rate.
A recent survey by the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville showed that 25% of artists were not planning to stay in Nashville beyond the next 2-3 years.
From the Arts Equity Mayoral Candidate Forum: We recognize the arts built our reputation. We realize we must nourish our roots to keep harvesting fruits. We further note that development has unfairly affected some communities while favoring others. We call for equitable funding and restorative justice strategies to support small arts organizations and independent artists.
Local artists and organizations are hosting a forum to request that the mayoral candidates commit to reinvesting in Nashville’s creative roots. Learn more and RSVP below!
ABOUT METRO ARTS
Metro Nashville Arts Commission or “Metro Arts” is the office of Arts + Culture for Nashville and Davidson County. We believe that arts drive a more vibrant and equitable community. We strive to ensure that all Nashvillians have access to a creative life through community investments, artist and organizational training, public art and creative placemaking coordination and direct programs that involve residents in all forms of arts and culture.
Metro Arts Cultural Equity Statement
METRO ARTS IS FUNDED IN PART BY
The arts are getting cut from state budgets across America. In Tennessee, we are fortunate to have an additional source of funding. The extra revenue we receive from specialty and personalized license plate sales has been key to funding the arts in Tennessee. More than 70% of the money used to fund the 800+ grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission last year was from the sale of these specialty license plates.
Support the Arts with a Specialty License Plate
NEWS AND UPDATES
