By Taylor Sanchez
NASHVILLE, TN — When you think of the art scene in Nashville, many people jump to The Frist, 5th Avenue of the Arts, and the galleries that line it. But, Britney Drake, Jayyvon Jones, and Carlos Partee saw a hole in the Nashville art scene and set about to do something about it. Founding the Black Art Market (BAM), their first event “featured 10 vendors and has grown to thirty plus,” said Drake. She notes that the mission of the organization is to “celebrate, promote and connect Black Artist with the community through events and media.”
The event has grown exponentially with a new event that she can’t discuss coming up in November. Each event is a family friendly and safe creative space for the community to “shop, discover new artists, and create.” Drake says that every event has an activity station where customers are encouraged to paint, draw, and craft and then take home that piece they made.
What sets BAM apart from other art organizations in Nashville is that they are about saying yes to up and coming and established artists. According to Drake “We play a role in creating greater opportunities in a world full of denial by accepting all that apply within availability.” The organization is centered on bringing the diverse talent Nashville has to the forefront, and creating a space for minority artists that might be lacking in Middle Tennessee.
“We wanted each time to be about bringing the fun back at any age when it comes to the arts! As well as giving opportunities to all levels of artists to shine from amateur to professional! The organization plays a role in that by giving vendors the space to sell and give the community the space to create.”
If you would like more information about the Black Art Market, you can check out their website at https://theblackartmarket.com.