How can we continue to amplify the contributions of Black creatives in Nashville while ensuring their legacy is preserved and celebrated?

Something that makes Nashville truly unique is our thriving creative culture, and so much of that can be attributed to the legacy of the city’s African American and Black community members. Nashville’s nickname as Music City comes from a reference to the Fisk Jubilee Singers by the Queen of England in the late 19thcentury. 150 years later, the nickname might just be one of the most lasting, well-known impacts from local Black creatives. Other than being home to Fisk and three other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), North Nashville was also once home to a thriving live music scene on Jefferson Street where Black artists looking to launch their careers performed.

Beyond music, there are so many creative outlets for which Black Nashvillians paved the way forward. From the abstract storytelling represented in both fine art and large-scale murals across the city to the emotional storytelling represented by local filmmakers and community organizers, the impacts run deep in Nashville’s culture.

During PechaKucha Vol 48: The Impact of Black Creatives, we will provide the space for attendees to get to know 8 Black creatives a little bit better by hearing their stories in lightning talks under 7 minutes long each.

Presenters will be announced soon…

About PechaKucha

Drawing its name from the Japanese term for the sound of "chit chat", PechaKucha rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images x 20 seconds. It's a format that makes presentations concise, and keeps things moving at a rapid pace.

PechaKucha Night was devised in Tokyo in February 2003 as an event for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public. It grew into a massive celebration, with events happening in hundreds of cities around the world, inspiring creatives worldwide. The Civic Design Center is the Nashville host.