OUR MISSION
The Arts & Business Council is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that leverages and unites the unique resources of the arts and business communities to create a thriving, sustainable creative culture in Nashville.
What We Do
- We create mutually beneficial partnerships between arts and business.
- We provide direct services, key opportunities, and education to the creative community to help them master the business of art.
- We inspire workplace creativity in businesses to demonstrate the impact of the arts through tangible benefits and develop life-long arts participants and supporters.
OUR VISION AND CORE VALUES
As the hub for building more sustainable arts businesses and creative enterprises:
- Investing in artists is central to the Arts & Business Council’s long-term vision of a community where artists are valued as critical assets to be engaged, supported, and empowered.
- The Arts & Business Council believes having a large population of engaged, capable artists will lead to both a more just and equitable society.
- The Arts & Business Council believes a strong sector of creative businesses will enhance the overall economic profile of the Greater Nashville area. A thriving arts community: attracts businesses to Nashville; makes for a healthy, happy population; and creates strong, innovative solutions to social, business, and civic challenges.
OUR IMPACT
The impact of our programs continues to increase year-after-year as we remain flexible, responsive, and innovative in the fulfillment of our mission to cultivate Nashville’s creative community. Download a recent annual report to learn more!
BOARD
HONORARY CHAIRMAN
Martha Ingram, Ingram Industries
Kirsten Jacobson, Asurion Jined Lamata Holladay, Holladay Ventures Mike Koupal, Elliott Davis
Jacki Artis, UTA Foundation
Libby Callaway, The Callaway
Brittany Cole, Career Thrivers
Stephen Eaves, Belmont University
Cara Greene, Dryden Architecture & Design
Tré Hardin, Don Hardin Group
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone
Jamie Kent, The BAM Group
Emmanuel LeGrair, R.H. Boyd & The Commonwealth
Rory Levine, Academy of Country Music
Courtney Little, Musician & Arts Administrator
Marcia Masulla, Nashville Fashion Week & Roar Nashville
Joanna Paszek, CBRE
Kearstin Patterson, HCA Healthcare
Brian Sexton, Nashville Music, Film and Entertainment Commission
Tracy D. Sharpley-Whiting, Vanderbilt University
Teresa Tatlonghari, Nashville Soccer Club
Thor Urness, Bradley
Trent Yates, Sagemont Real Estate
Anna Zeitlin, Fanny & June & Zeitgeist Gallery
Ethan Zoubek, Atari
Are you interested in serving on an arts nonprofit board? Check out our Arts Board Matching program! If you’d like to learn more about serving on the Arts & Business Council’s board specifically, please email our Executive Director.
STAFF
Jill McMillan Palm, Executive Director
Jonathan Harwell-Dye, Director of Programs
Jackie Johnson Tidwell, Director of Operations & Strategic Initiatives
Jennifer “Ennie” Brosius, Program Manager
Kate Formway, Volunteer Services Specialist
Synthia Hogan, Development Coordinator
Darrius Hall, Marketing Coordinator
The Arts & Business Council is certified as a Nashville Living Wage employer. Nashville Living Wage (NLW) is a membership-based, volunteer-led organization that educates the community on the importance and urgency of a “more just” minimum wage.
NLW hopes to inspire businesses to pay a living wage now and commit to providing a living wage in the future while also helping community members (residents and visitors) become conscientious consumers by supporting living wage businesses.
The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville is a nonprofit-in-residence at Belmont University. Learn more about Belmont University here.