Nashville Mayoral Candidates Discuss the Arts at Today's Public Forum

Nashville Arts Coalition and leading community arts organizations will conduct a public forum today, May 14 that engages major Nashville mayoral candidates to discuss their visions for the arts.

The event forum will be held at Nashville Children's Theatre, 25 Middleton Street, beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and moderated forum from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited to 535. Forum partners include Nashville Arts Magazine; 5th Avenue of the Arts; Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville; Curb Center for Art, Enterprise & Public Policy at Vanderbilt; Music Makes Us; Nashville Film, Television & Transmedia Council; and the Nashville Fashion Alliance.

"The arts have been a transformative force in the growth and prosperity of Nashville," says Noah Spiegel, Chief Operating Officer of Nashville Opera and NAC co-chair. "So many local stakeholders, including Metro Government, have worked hard to make the arts a big driving force in our economy and our quality of life. The next mayor will have a tremendous opportunity to engage the creative community to ensure that the arts continues to be a city priority that is important to Nashville's future."

Kathryn Colegrove, Managing Director at Nashville Children's Theatre and NAC co-chair, adds, "The arts community is highly tuned in to this important election. We are eager to hear from the candidates and believe this forum will provide each of them an opportunity to share their vision and plans for the arts, for supporting artists, makers and the cultural institutions - small to large - that make this a vibrant and innovative city."

The arts have a significant economic and cultural impact on Nashville.

"Together cultural tourism and creative jobs account for nearly one quarter of the region's jobs and a major portion of the city's 'It Factor'. Cities that invest in creative industries and cultural life prosper economically and in overall quality of life," remarks Jennifer Cole, Executive Director of the Metro Nashville Arts Commission. The National Center on Arts Research has named Nashville the No. 2 market in the nation for Arts Vibrancy, even though cities such as Austin, Portland and Denver outspend Nashville by nearly 4-to-1 in public sector investments in cultural organizations.

Nashville is rated No. 4, behind New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., in the national Creative Vitality Index by the Western States Arts Federation., which measures major communities' impact of creative economy and cultural participation. The public is invited to submit questions to the candidates in advance of the forum via the Nashville Arts Coalition website - nac.nationbuilder.com. NAC will live-tweet the event and post updates on social media.

For more information, visit the Candidate Forum webpage, the Creative Edge Platform, and the Nashville Arts Coalition (Twitter: @NashvilleArtsCo; Facebook).

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