Our Purpose
We are an independent, nonprofit advocacy group created to identify, unite and promote arts, culture, and heritage throughout Rutherford County, Tennessee. Founded as a 501(c)(3) in late 2018, our mission is to:
Advocate for all aspects of our cultural community
Promote Rutherford County as a cultural and heritage community and destination
Communicate the social and economic impact of the arts
Create opportunities for networking, collaboration, education, and economic success
Define current arts gaps and create a united front to address these gaps
As our tagline states, our purpose is “connecting creatives and community.” We advocate a cooperative, not competitive, approach. Partnering with existing arts organizations, individuals, and other groups—representing government, education, business, wellness, and more—is foundational to our mission and our future success.
Rutherford Arts Alliance supports a creative life for all and promotes policies and practices that empower a just, inclusive, and equitable community. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. We are committed to recognizing both our local cultural history and our growing diversity as we welcome all members of our organization and community.
Why now?
Our late-2018 launch hinged on the fact that arts in Rutherford County have reached a critical mass. In 2017:
An Americans for the Arts study showed that the arts in Rutherford County generate $31.2 million in annual economic activity—and that was a conservative estimate.
The Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin area ranked fourth nationally in arts vibrancy in large communities, according to the SMU National Center for Arts Research.
Even through the pandemic and social distancing, we continue to leverage our collective strength and take the arts to the next level here in Rutherford County. For more about the studies mentioned above and examples of our growing arts scene, see our Resources page.
Learn more about our story and meet our leadership, or view or download our information flyer (last updated July 2022).
