The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville proudly presents the eighth annual Periscope Pitch + Artist Entrepreneur Showcase at OZ Arts on September 8 from 6–9 p.m. Hosted by NewsChannel 5’s Henry Rothenberg, this year’s cohort of Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training graduates will showcase their work, unveil their creative business plans to the public, and share how they plan to realize their entrepreneurial dreams. The pitch and showcase highlights the business acumen, innovative spirit, and artistic prowess of local artists, makers, and entrepreneurs across an array of artistic disciplines including music, dance, film/tv, literary arts, photography, painting, sculpture and more.
Periscope Pitch + Artist Entrepreneur Showcase is the first public, in-person event that the Arts & Business Council has hosted since March 2020. To ensure the safety of everyone involved, protocols based on current disease dynamics and CDC best practices have been established for the event including requiring that all artists, staff members, volunteers, and attendees provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination (must be 14 days after the final dose, which shall be no later than August 25, 2021) or a negative COVID test from a recognized authority dated within 48 hours of the event (self-administered home tests will not be accepted).
Proof of vaccination can be provided by presenting either the original vaccination documentation, or a photograph of that record, that matches the name on that individual’s government-issued identification. In addition, all participants must attest that they are symptom-free before entering the building and face masks will be required during the event (except when eating and drinking in designated areas). Attendees must also observe proper hygiene and physically distance wherever possible.
With health and safety protocols firmly in place, the evening is set to begin with the Artist Entrepreneur Showcase from 6–7 p.m., where attendees will meet the artists and peruse booths highlighting the businesses the artists have developed through the program. Attendees will experience new art, hear inspiring music, watch compelling videos, and learn about the talented artist entrepreneurs in Periscope 2021. Masks will be required at all times in the Showcase area.
Then, at 7 p.m., eight finalists selected through two preliminary rounds will pitch their creative businesses live on stage for the opportunity to win cash and prizes. After judges’ deliberation and an audience vote, the night ends with a graduation and award presentation ceremony announcing the winners of the Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation Pitch Perfect Award, Fifth Third Bank Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, Core Development Community Choice Award, and Southwest Airlines Best In Showcase Award. This year’s consummate judges panel includes 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 Periscope Pitch + Artist Entrepreneur Showcase is the culmination of the Arts & Business Council’s Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training program which provides a cohort of professional artists with the tools they need to see their artistic vision through an entrepreneurial lens and take their creative business to the next level. This is the eighth class of Periscope since the program began in 2014.
The 2021 Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training cohort includes (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).
*Indicates artists who will present live during the Periscope Pitch competition.