5 minute read
Nashville Arts & Entertainment Commission
~by Amy Huffman Oliver
In 1907, American impressionist painter T.C. Steele first captured Brown County’s unique landscapes and color on a canvas.
One hundred years and generations of artists later, the State of Indiana recognized Brown County as “The Art Colony of the Midwest.”
In 2012, the state designated Nashville as an Indiana Cultural District called “Arts Village Brown County,” increasing its access to state arts funding. To support and coordinate these activities, the town council created the Nashville Arts and Entertainment Commission (NAEC).
The commission’s nine members, each appointed by the town council for a three year term, provide the leadership and funding necessary to coordinate public murals, art displays, and performing arts projects. The commission allocates resources from state grants, endowments, and local tax dollars to a wide variety of art-related activities.
Mission of the NAEC
According to the council’s founding ordinances, the commission’s goals include:
• Supporting awareness of the arts in its many forms;
• Creating long-range plans for residents and guests to experience art in public places;
• Enhancing community life through participation and financial support;
• Stimulating economic growth and incentives that encourage the arts.
Melanie Voland, the president of the NAEC for the past three years, supports children’s mental health through Centerstone as her day job. In her free time, she is a passionate supporter of Nashville as a living, breathing art colony. Voland wants to broaden the common definition of what art is. “For me, we need to not only support the fine arts you can purchase in a gallery, but also traditional artisan crafts and music that we want reverberating throughout the county.”
NAEC recently supported:
Six Public Murals: Since 2022, the NAEC approved and assisted with the creation of six public murals. It received grants from the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC), the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC), and the Robert J. Hoffman Public Art Fund through the Brown County Community Foundation (BCCF) to fund the mural projects, each depicting a different aspect of Brown County’s natural surroundings and artistic history.
Living Art Colony: This fall, the commission organized a Living Art Colony showcasing Brown County artisans, musicians, and craftspeople from the era of 1890-1920. With funding from the IAC and volunteer help from the Brown County Historical Society and the Pioneer Women, costumed interpreters offered demonstrations in traditional arts such as spinning, weaving, cooking, storytelling, plein air painting, and music to visitors and students.
Fourth Friday Art Walk: On the fourth Friday of each month from April to October, some village shops and galleries stay open in the evening for an Art Walk. The commission provides advertising to encourage guests to interact with participating artists.
Vinyl Wrap Art Project: In 2021-22, local artists Gabriel Lehman, Daren Redman, and Patricia Bartels created designs for vinyl wraps that beautify Nashville’s three traffic signal boxes.
Music Festivals: NAEC provides financial assistance to Chamberfest, a classical music festival in the village, and the Indiana State Fingerstyle Guitar Festival, a national competition of acoustic guitar players.
Tree Lighting and the Christkindl Market: Making the holidays brighter, the Commission supported musical entertainment and traditional decorations at the Historical Society’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, as well as an ice sculpture artist and musical entertainment at the Christkindl Market.
The commission is supporting several new projects:
• Farmette 2025, a folk music conference and artist showcase coming as a new festival to Nashville on June 21, 2025;
• The 100th anniversary of the Brown County Art Gallery; and
• More public murals. NAEC plans to unveil future designs and locations in the next year.
Voland is invigorated by the opportunity to preserve the heritage of Nashville’s artist colony as part of the NAEC.
“When I think of the early artists, of their attraction to the exquisite light, I feel connected to those old days and ways. Their art has a timeless appeal in variety and expression that provides a connection to both adults and children alike.”
Artist Kurt Eagleman said that Brown County’s heritage as an artist colony was “baked into” him as a child growing up here. Eagleman, who designed and painted three of the town’s public murals that showcase his modern and colorful style, emphasizes that the future of Brown County’s art can pay homage to T. C. Steele and the early artists while still changing and growing over time.
“We have an obligation as a prominent art colony in the Midwest to keep progressing forward, whatever that looks like.”
The migration of artists to Brown County that T.C. Steele set into motion in 1907 continues today as a dynamic home for artists to practice their craft.
