Get to Know This Year’s Distinguished Periscope Pitch Judges

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Registration is filling up for the 2024 Periscope Pitch + Artist Entrepreneur Showcase happening September 4 at OZ Arts Nashville! Don’t miss this chance to celebrate the business acumen, innovative spirit, and artistic prowess of local artists, makers, and entrepreneurs across an array of artistic disciplines. We are excited to introduce you to the amazing panel of Judges lending their time and expertise for this year’s competition:

Em Wilder
Program Manager (Twendé), Nashville Entrepreneur Center

A native of Evanston, IL, Em Wilder (She/They) is a seasoned non-profit and community leader with an extensive background in program design, people leadership, and community engagement. A graduate of DePaul University with a degree in Public Policy: Urban Studies, Em has dedicated over a decade to creating and managing innovative educational programs aimed at closing opportunity gaps for K-12 students in the Chicagoland area.

In June 2023, Em, her spouse, and their two children relocated to Nashville, TN, from Chicago, IL. She took on the role of Twendé Program Manager at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and within her first year, Em successfully enrolled the program’s largest statewide cohort to date and strengthened Twendé’s community of founders, partner organizations, and other key stakeholders. A natural connector, Em thrives on collaborative work within Nashville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and broader community.

In their free time, Em enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, serving on the Membership Committee at Soho House – Nashville, making and listening to music, and traveling.

Evan Roosevelt Brown Curator + Creative Director

Evan Roosevelt Brown (He/Him) is a visionary art curator and creative director with a passion for building upon the artistic expressions of artists. Raised in Nashville since he was 5 years of age, Evan’s upbringing in the Nashville community art scene ignited his lifelong fascination with creativity, expression and expansion. Evan’s academic journey led him to earn a degree in Economics and Finance and a Master’s in Business Administration, where he honed his critical thinking and analytical skills. After years of developing relationships and building a sound resumé in corporate work, Evan was presented the opportunity to pursue his first passion of art and curation, where he led as art director for Slim & Husky’s pizza locations and headed The NKA Gallery by Slim & Husky’s as curator and director of exhibitions. His innovative approach to curating exhibitions has garnered local and state attention, leading to collaborative curatorial projects with Ce Gallery and more, and building a reputation for bringing together young, emerging, progressive artists and underrepresented voices to share their artistic narratives. Evan’s passion for education led him to develop educational programs alongside local schools, hosting workshops and discussions that encourage dialogue, foster creativity, and promote art as a tool for change throughout Nashville, Memphis and Tennessee.

Evan believes that art is a powerful catalyst for societal transformation. He envisions a world where art challenges perceptions, sparks conversation and fuels innovation. His philosophy centers on the idea that art should not only be aesthetically pleasing but should also provoke thought, evoke emotion, and inspire action. He strives to create immersive experiences that transport visitors into new realms of imagination and understanding.

Jeremy Cowart
Artist, Photographer + Creator of PORTRAITLAB.CO

Jeremy Cowart (He/Him) is a Nashville-born artist and photographer known for his innovative approach to art and tech. Renowned for blending creativity with purpose, he has photographed celebrities (Taylor Swift, the Kardashians, Emma Stone and more), created campaigns for global brands, and founded The Purpose Hotel, a groundbreaking initiative merging hospitality with philanthropy. Cowart’s work extends beyond commercial success, as he uses his talent to advocate for social issues and drive positive change. His innovative vision and commitment to making a difference have earned him acclaim worldwide.

MORGXN
Singer-Songwriter

Nashville-born-and-based artist Morgan Isaac Karr, best known as MORGXN (They/He/Xe), released his debut album “vital” in 2018 including the lead single “home” featuring Walk the Moon. The track was a Top 10 Alternative Radio hit — landing on the Billboard Alternative Songs Chart and Billboard Rock Airplay Chart. He made festival debuts at Lollapalooza, Firefly, LaurelLive and Hangout Music Festival and toured extensively (X Ambassadors, Phoebe Ryan, Skylar Grey, Mike Snow, Dreamers, Robert Delong, ARIZONA) while his music received megawatt licensing looks (ABC, HBO, SHOWTIME, NBC, The CW, USA Networks). In 2021 he performed his viral hit song ”WONDER” alongside Sara Bareilles on Jimmy Kimmel Live. In total his music has exceeded 200M streams over the last two years. He recently won a New York Emmy Award for one of his songs in the reimagining of Where the Wild Things Are by NYC-based ballet company Black Iris Project. His new album BEACON was released in 2024 with a performance of the lead single “My Revival” on the Kelly Clarkson Show.
Photo by: Shervin Lainez

Don’t miss your chance to be the first to see what’s next for Nashville’s creative community!


Periscope Pitch + Artist Entrepreneur Showcase is the culmination of the Arts & Business Council’s Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training program, and is presented by Amazon. Program support is generously provided by FifthThird Bank, Piedmont Natural Gas, Southwest Airlines, and the Tennessee Entertainment Commission.