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 R. Ingram*, Ingram Industries
DIRECTORS
Rory Levine, Launch Tennessee, Vice Chair
Kirsten Jacobson, Asurion, Secretary/Immediate Past Chair
Thor Urness, Bradley, Treasurer
Larry Abel, Abel McCallister Abel
Jacki Artis, UTA Foundation
Marca Barr, Parallon
Brittany Cole, Career Thrivers
Eric Cook, So+Co Community Initiatives
Nolan Corder, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Cara Greene, Greenehouse Consulting
Tré Hardin, Don Hardin Group
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone
Ely Jones, MARS
Dr. Megan Jordan, Artist, Educator & Consultant
Jamie Kent, The BAM Group
Emmanuel LeGrair, R.H. Boyd & The Commonwealth
Leah Lowe, The Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University
Brittany Macon, Polsinelli
Marcia Masulla, Nashville Fashion Week & Roar Nashville
Trey McClarnon, Best Part Productions
Joanna Paszek, CBRE
Dana M. Sanders, Pinnacle Financial Partners
Leon Scioscia, Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Teresa Tatlonghari, Nashville Soccer Club
Trent Yates, Sagemont Real Estate
Anna Zeitlin, Fanny & June & Zeitgeist Gallery
*ex-officio member
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 fill out our Interest Form.
STAFF
Jill McMillan Palm, Executive Director
Jonathan Harwell-Dye, Director of Programs
Courtney “CK” Stone, Director of Development
Jennifer “Ennie” Brosius, Program Manager
Kate Formway, Volunteer Services Specialist
Hilary Tomlinson, Marketing & Engagement Manager
Alisa Smith, Program 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.