Statements

Mission

Kindling Arts develops innovative new works by Nashville's experimental artists, empowering diverse creators with the resources required to explore challenging ideas in a multidisciplinary context.

Background

By providing local artists with space, resources, and practical support, Kindling promotes underrepresented voices and aesthetics, making space for boundary-pushing work that would otherwise be impossible. With a focus on championing the experimental and providing a home for unclassifiable performances, Kindling enables Nashville's most radical independent artists to explore new modes of performance-making and challenge the status quo. Kindling collaborates with artists working in theater, dance, multimedia, performance art, circus, and comedy at all stages of their career and handles the producing logistics of their project, freeing up capacity for them to focus on the art.

Kindling provides Nashville's independent artists with high-caliber performance venues and rehearsal spaces at no cost to the artist in addition to free marketing and promotional infrastructure, technical and design support, creative producing consultation, and professional feedback. Artists are offered unique opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, explore new mediums, engage with important social issues, network with other creatives, and cultivate a supportive community. In an increasingly conservative local climate that is particularly hostile to LGBTQ+ individuals, Kindling provides a rare and essential uncensored forum that celebrates diversity. Now in its 7th year, Kindling's core programming includes the annual Kindling Arts Festival, a multi-day celebration of local artists that showcases more than a dozen diverse performances and events in various venues throughout Nashville, as well as unique arts events year-round.

Impact

Since 2018, Kindling Arts has made an enormous impact on Nashville's artistic ecosystem, becoming an essential resource for local artists. As a people-powered organization, we treat the budget as a moral document, prioritizing payments directly to artists. Since 2018, over 500 Nashville artists have been supported with $200K+ in artist/technician payments. In both 2022 and 2023, over 50% of our expenses were for Artists and Creative Personnel.

More than 10,000 audience members have experienced Kindling's highly innovative performances, the majority of which tackle vital social issues and foster timely conversations. Meaningful community partners have included The Porch, Defy Film Festival, Woven Theater Co., and Friends Life, among others. Kindling has been praised by local press, including "Best Summer Arts Festival" and "Best Local Theater Performance" accolades from the Nashville Scene.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Arts, Culture & Humanities  - Performing Arts
Secondary Category:	Arts, Culture & Humanities  - Arts & Culture
Tertiary Category:	Arts, Culture & Humanities  - Theater

Areas Served

TN - Davidson