Neighborhood Nonprofit Spotlight: Arts & Business Council

Patch talks to Arts and Business Council about the different volunteer opportunities and educational events it offers.

Patch: Tell Patch a little bit about your organization!

ABC: We offer four core programs:

Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts: Provides pro-bono legal services to low-income artists of all disciplines, as well as legal and business assistance to emerging nonprofit arts organizations.

Education: Teaches the creative community about the business of art to help artists make a living and a life from their creative endeavors. We offer monthly seminars as well as an intensive training opportunity, Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training, which takes place once a year and accepts applications each January.

Arts Board Matching: Arts Board Matching promotes dynamic leadership in the arts community by cultivating the skills needed to be effective, engaged board members and making matches between vibrant business professionals and arts organizations in need of board members.

WorkCreative WorkCREATIVE in-office projects bring music, visual and performing arts into the workplace and integrate employees in hands-on creativity to stimulate communication, build teamwork, and spark innovation for effective business growth.

Patch: When did you open?

ABC: In early 2009, The Tennessee Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts merged with the newly formed Arts and Business Council of Greater Nashville (“ABC”), which shared a common mission to serve the creative community and increase business volunteerism. With the merger, VLPA became the cornerstone program of ABC.

Patch: What is the biggest struggle your organization faces?

ABC: Our biggest struggle is spreading the word to every artist in need of our services and every business professional who might want to engage in our programs. So the opportunity to talk with PATCH is a big help!

Patch: What do you hope for the future of your nonprofit?

ABC: ABC hopes to become a hub for building more sustainable arts businesses, which will make Nashville a great place to create art. We also aim to convert business and civic leaders into arts patrons to increase the demand for and support of the arts.

Image via Arts & Business Council