The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville is pleased to announce the winners of the 8th annual Periscope Pitch + Artist Entrepreneur Showcase held at OZ Arts Nashville on Sept. 8. The event was the culmination of this year’s Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training, a year-long intensive business development curriculum and mentorship program for local artists of all disciplines.
The Arts & Business Council’s first in-person, public event since March 2020, the nonprofit arts service organization adhered to strict health and safety protocols for the pitch and showcase based on current health guidelines and industry standards. All staff, volunteers and attendees were required to provide proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID test, at the door, and everyone was required to wear a mask while inside the building. Physical distancing was encouraged and seating was arranged so that parties could distance appropriately.
The evening began with the Artist Entrepreneur Showcase in which artists displayed their work and creative business plans to the public. Attendees browsed artists’ tables, engaged in conversation with artists about their work, and exchanged business cards and contact information opening the door to future collaboration and support. Following the showcase, eight artists pitched their creative business plans live on stage in the Periscope Pitch competition, hosted by NewsChannel 5’s Henry Rothenberg. A panel of four expert judges asked questions and provided feedback, scoring each of the pitches with regard to business acumen, artistic excellence, and overall presentation effectiveness. This year’s panel included: Brittany Cole, Founder, Career Thrivers; Gina Miller, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Entertainment One; Katie Shaw, Owner, Red Arrow Gallery; and James Worsham, Owner and Creative Engineer, Handy Dandy Productions. The audience was also invited to help select the winners, voting digitally for both their favorite business pitch and favorite showcase display. In the end, five artists walked away with more than $7,500 in cash and prizes!
Jamila ‘Mimi’ McCarly is the co-founder of Nashville is Not Just Country Music. Photo by Tiffany Bissere.
Jamila ‘Mimi’ McCarly, co-founder of Nashville is Not Just Country Music, won the Piedmont Natural Gas Pitch Perfect Award, with a cash prize of $2,500, for her business helping up-and-coming local musicians create and license their music for film and television projects. Sync licensing has continued to be an effective and important revenue stream for artists, and Nashville is Not Just Country Music assists emerging talent in the creation and marketing of unique, commercially viable catalogs of music.
Keisha Becerra is the founder of Xavier Arts. Photo by Tiffany Bissere.
Stephcynie Curry is the founder of Paid2Play. Photo by Tiffany Bissere.
In a surprise tie, Keisha Becerra and Stephcynie Curry were both awarded the Fifth Third Bank Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, a $1,500 cash prize for each. Becerra is the founder of Xavier Arts, a creative company that focuses on diverse representation in art and media. Xavier Arts creates coloring books, notebooks, stationary, and more featuring women of color and showcasing the full diversity of people throughout the U.S. Stephcynie Curry is the founder of Paid2Play, a music festival that develops emerging musical artists by helping them create high-quality, well-produced content that demonstrates their value and helps them get “paid to play.”
Lyndy Rutledge is the founder of Firefly Artisan Fair. Photo by Tiffany Bissere.
Lyndy Rutledge, founder of Firefly Artisan Fair, won the Core Development Community Choice Award, a $1,500 cash prize, for her business pitch. Firefly is an annual, night-time artisan fair focused exclusively on Nashville-based artists, artisans, and makers. Happening on Saturday, October 23, 2021, Lyndy hopes to attract event sponsors and increase attendance for the annual celebration of Nashville’s creative spirit.
Kyshona Armstrong is the founder of Your Song. Photo courtesy of the artist.
In addition, Kyshona Armstrong, founder of Your Song, walked away with the Southwest Airlines Best in Showcase Award for her impactful display showcasing her creative business. Your Song is a songwriting program for people of all ages, musical backgrounds, and walks of life. A singer-songwriter and musical therapist, Armstrong uses a therapeutic approach to songwriting in both individual and group settings to uncover the treasure in every person and reunite them with the world that needs them.
All five winners received a free round-trip ticket from Southwest Airlines.
The entire Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training cohort was honored with a graduation ceremony (listed alphabetically by first name): Bliss Cortez (Multidisciplinary), Bradley Montesi (Film/Television), Cassis Pitman (Visual Art/Wearable Ceramics), Hunter Perschbacher (Film/Television), Jamila “Mimi” McCarley (Music Publishing, Business Development)*, Jammie Williams (Visual Art), Janelle Faiman (Multidisciplinary)*, Jenny Petite Steiner (Visual Art), Karen Matkosky (Multidisciplinary), Keisha Becerra (Visual Art), Kyshona Armstrong (Music), Lindsy Davis (Visual Art), Lyndy Rutledge (Public Art/Creative Placemaking), Monya Nikahd (Multidisciplinary), Natalie Jean (Music), Rachel Karr (Visual Art), Rebecca Titus (Literary Arts), Reza FIlsoofi (Multidisciplinary), Sarah Clinton (Visual Art), Stephcynie Curry (Music)*, Terrell Johnson (Visual Art), Tosha Pendergrast (Multidisciplinary), Ty Swint (Multidisciplinary), and Tyler Champion (Visual Art).
Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training provides a cohort of artists with the tools to see their artistic vision through an entrepreneurial lens including training, exchange, mentorship, and exposure opportunities like the Periscope Pitch + Artist Entrepreneur Showcase. Applications for the class of 2022 open in early January at abcnashville.org/periscope.
Photos by Tiffany Bessire.