Twenty Years of Creativity, Community, and Impact
For two decades, the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville has worked to shape a city where artists and creative organizations have the resources, support, and advocacy they need to thrive. Guided by the belief that creativity is essential to a vibrant, equitable and economically strong community, ABC works at the intersection of art, business, and civic life to strengthen the creative sector and help Nashville grow with intention.
What began as two pioneering ideas—the Nashville Business Committee for the Arts and Tennessee Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts—has become a cornerstone institution serving the full breadth of the region’s creative ecosystem through legal support, education, leadership development, and cross-sector collaboration.
Today, ABC stands on a foundation built by visionary leaders, countless partners, dedicated board members and volunteers, and the thousands of artists and creative professionals who entrust us with advancing their work and uplifting their stories. Our 20th anniversary is not just a milestone, it is a celebration of what creativity makes possible in a city, and a commitment to the future we are building together.
Where We Started
ABC was born from two simple yet powerful ideas: artists deserve support, and creativity strengthens communities. The Nashville Business Committee for the Arts was formed in 2005 with a mission to unite business leaders around the value of the arts, while Tennessee Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts was founded in 2006 to ensure artists and arts nonprofits had access to critical legal services in support of their work. Recognizing the alignment of their missions around cross-sector partnerships in service to the arts, these two organizations merged to form what is now known as the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville.
Where We Are Today
ABC has grown from a small two-person organization serving hundreds of artists each year, to a seven person staff that manages programs and services that reach more than 9,000 individuals throughout Greater Nashville annually.
From providing critical legal services and educational programs, to strengthening nonprofit governance, building leadership pipelines and empowering creative entrepreneurs, ABC works to ensure that Nashville remains a place where artists are valued, supported, and seen as essential to the fabric of our community.
Our core programs include:
- Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts
- Education & Professional Development
- Fiscal Sponsorship
- Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training
- Arts Board Matching
- Community partnerships and creative collaborations across the city
Looking Forward
ABC’s 20th anniversary is also a moment of momentum. As we look ahead, we are strengthening and expanding the work that has guided us for twenty years, building deeper community partnerships, supporting creative workers at every stage of their careers, advocating for equitable access to creative opportunity, and nurturing the creative infrastructure that makes Nashville thrive.
Future projects include the provision of accessible, affordable creative development space; affordable housing for creatives; arts advocacy initiatives; and the launch of an exciting annual event celebrating the vibrancy of Nashville’s creative community.
This milestone year will also spotlight stories, lessons, voices, and vision from across our network—the people who make this work meaningful.
Introducing Our “20 for 20” Series
To celebrate throughout the year, we’re launching a monthly blog series exploring themes connected to creativity, leadership, and community impact, all rooted in the number that brought us here: 20.
Each month, we’ll share:
- A themed list of 20 ideas, reflections, milestones, or voices
- Perspectives from artists, partners, educators, leaders, and community members
- Stories that honor our past while looking toward our future
From creative resolutions to leadership insights, moments of transformation to community impact, each “20 for 20” post will help tell the story of how creativity has shaped Nashville, and where it is taking us next.
This page will be your home base for the full “20 for 20” series. New posts will be added monthly, so check back often or join our newsletter to stay connected.
Browse the Series:
(January) – Creative Resolutions
Thank You
This year honors every artist, supporter, partner, volunteer, lawyer, board member, donor, staff member, and collaborator who has helped keep Nashville creative.
We are grateful for the past twenty years. And we can’t wait for what comes next.