As part of our 20th anniversary Volunteer Spotlight series, we’re continuing to celebrate the dedicated professionals who help strengthen Nashville’s creative community through the Arts & Business Council.

Our volunteers are essential partners in our work. From providing pro bono legal and professional through Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) to serving as mentors for artists through Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training, our volunteers offer practical guidance, trusted perspective, and hands-on support at key moments in creative careers. Opportunities to volunteer with ABC span disciplines and professional backgrounds.

This month, we’re proud to spotlight Lanie Gannon, a Nashville-based artist and longtime member of the city’s creative community who has volunteered with ABC since 2016.

Lanie Gannon is a Nashville-based artist who constructs paper into woven, gridded structures, from intimate wall reliefs to room-scale suspensions. Her work has been shown at the Frist Art Museum and entered the permanent collection of the CODA Museum in the Netherlands. A longtime member of Nashville’s creative community, she has volunteered as a Periscope facilitator with the Arts & Business Council for over ten years, drawn to the chance to support artists as they build their practices.

We asked Lanie a few questions reflecting on her years of service with ABC:

What inspired you to volunteer with ABC?

Casey Gill Summar, the first executive director of the Arts & Business Council, was a former student of mine at Belmont University whose intellect, creativity, and positivity I admired. She invited me to join as a group facilitator for Periscope, and I have been involved ever since.

What has been your favorite “volunteer moment”?

After ten years with Periscope, my favorite moments all come down to the people, especially the chance to meet so many young artists in an organization that has championed diversity from the start.

Any advice for new volunteers?

Volunteering here requires very little of your time, and the sense of accomplishment you gain is real. The organization’s growth has been phenomenal, with services to the creative community expanding all the time, so there is likely a niche for every kind of professional. You are sharing your expertise with deserving artists who might not otherwise have access to it, and in the big picture, you are helping Nashville grow its cultural capital.

Thank you, Lanie!

We are grateful for Lanie’s decade of service to ABC and for the time, perspective, and encouragement she continues to share with Nashville’s artists through Periscope.

Interested in joining Lanie by contributing your skills or experience to support the creative community? We invite you to explore volunteer opportunities with ABC.

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