Welcome to Public Comments, where we hear directly from artists and allies in the Nashville arts scene.
During our 12-episode series, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices. This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves.
Episode 13: Black Art and Nashville’s Nonprofit Scene
During our limited series Public Comments, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices. In this thirteenth episode, our guest is Elisheba Israel Mrozik, a multidisciplinary artist and Middle Tennessee's first licensed Black tattoo artist. Founder of One Drop Ink Tattoo Parlour, QueenBeelnk LLC, and North Nashville Arts Coalition, Elisheba is focused on uplifting women and BIPOC artists, creating community-engaged fine art, and integrating art with social purpose.
This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship.
Hosted by Lydia Yousief and Christine Hall. Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production
15 Apr 2025
Episode 12: Evolving the Arts by Nourishing the Roots
During our limited series Public Comments, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices. In this twelfth episode, our guest is Sangeetha Ekambaram, a multidisciplinary artist born with a curiosity to explore the world and strong desire to sing and dance. We discuss finding the path forward through artist empowerment and community-building.
This show (originally 12 episodes, now with a bonus 13th episode forthcoming) is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship.
Hosted by Lydia Yousief and Christine Hall. Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production
10 Apr 2025
Episode 11: The Lack of Media Coverage
We’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices. In this eleventh episode, our guest is writer, producer, and filmmaker Elizabeth Burton. We discuss the media landscape and coverage of Metro Arts, as Elizabeth speaks about how the inner workings reinforce the status quo, and the importance of voice and perspective to the stories we tell.
This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship.
Hosted by Lydia Yousief and Christine Hall. Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production
2 Apr 2025
Episode 10: Musician in Music City
During our 12-episode limited series Public Comments, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices. In this tenth episode, our guest is Alayna Renae, an interdisciplinary vocalist and community organizer, the founder of Nashville Musicians for Change and executive director of Nashville Women in Jazz. Alayna talks about being a working class artist in Nashville, shining a light on the path to realizing creative projects with collective benefit, and showing how it’s essential to make the path more accessible.
This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship.
Hosted by Lydia Yousief and Christine Hall. Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production
26 Mar 2025
Episode 9: When There Is No Accountability, There Is Repetition
During our 12-episode limited series Public Comments, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices. In this ninth episode, our guest is Nicole Williams, a freelance writer who's worked for years to demystify the Metro government. We discuss the concerns that prompted Nicole’s public comments at Metro Arts meetings, the independence of the commission, ethics complaints, issues regarding removing commissioners, the working group, the mechanics of transparency, democracy, and the confluence of information-sharing and advocacy.
This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship.
Hosted by Lydia Yousief and Christine Hall. Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production
20 Mar 2025
Episode 8: What Does Equity Mean in the Dance Scene?
During our 12-episode limited series Public Comments, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices. In this eighth episode, we talk with choreographer, dancer, and Director of PYDANCE Asia Pyron about being an artist and finding the best place to start your own thing. Our conversation covers access and belonging, space and invitation, privilege and pathways—and raises questions about the newly installed barrier of requiring fiscal sponsorship for artists seeking funding in Nashville. We note that while Asia has found it beneficial and other individuals have had positive experiences, it has been the opposite for some artists, calling for further investigation into equitable routes for funding.
This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship.
Hosted by Alayna Renae and Christine Hall. Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production
11 Mar 2025
Episode 7: The Drama with the Art Monopolies
During our 12-episode limited series Public Comments, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices. In this seventh episode, our guest Nivedhan Singh speaks on his experiences as a former employee of TPAC and current working artist in Nashville.
This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship.
Hosted by Lydia Yousief and Christine Hall. Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production
6 Mar 2025
Episode 6: Where We've Been and What Happened That We're Here Again
During our 12-episode limited series Public Comments, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices. In this sixth episode, entitled "Where We’ve Been and What Happened That We’re Here Again," series hosts Lydia Yousief and Christine Hall have a midpoint check-in conversation that covers some of the latest developments in FY25.
This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship.
Hosted by Lydia Yousief and Christine Hall. Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production
27 Feb 2025
Episode 5: Now That the Scapegoat Is Gone, Gotta Sit with the White Supremacy
During our 12-episode limited series Public Comments, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices. In this fifth episode, entitled "Now That the Scapegoat Is Gone, Gotta Sit with the White Supremacy," we welcome one of the city's most outspoken supporters of artists, Council Member Joy Styles, who has sponsored legislation to write arts equity into Metro Code and called special sessions to expose inequities.
This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship.
Hosted by Alayna Renae and Christine Hall. Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production
17 Feb 2025
Episode 4: Why Privatization Is Evil
During our 12-episode limited series Public Comments, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices.
In this fourth episode, guest Nicole Minyard, Founder and Executive Director of Daybreak Arts, discusses the importance of solidarity between arts administrators and artists in tackling the barriers to accessing funding.
This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship.
Hosted by Lydia Yousief and Christine Hall.
Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production
14 Feb 2025
Episode 3: Why We Call Them the Arts Monopolies
During our 12-episode limited series Public Comments, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices.
In this third episode, we speak with former Metro Arts Executive Director Daniel Singh about his efforts to engage with the community in anti-racist work, along with the interference, undermining, and backlash from arts monopolies and bureaucrats who wanted to keep the status quo.
This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship.
Hosted by Lydia Yousief and Christine Hall.
Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production
2 Feb 2025
Episode 2: What Does Progressive Mean?
Guest: Cynthia Harris, theater artist, playwright, and community engaged artist with experience directing and performing.
During our 12-episode limited series Public Comments, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices. In this second episode, we discuss the severe inequities in funding, representation, and access for BIPOC and working class artists in Nashville.
This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship.
Hosted by Lydia Yousief and Christine Hall. Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production. Originally aired liv on WXNA 101.5 FM Nashville February 1, 2025.
27 Jan 2025
Episode 1: No Longer Self-Censoring
Guest: Ellen Angelico, guitarist, former Chair of the Metro Arts Commission and CARE (Committee for Anti-Racism and Equity).
During our 12-episode limited series Public Comments, we’re building an artist-centered narrative about the Title VI complaint process that got artists their money back here in Nashville, while exposing discriminatory funding practices. In this first episode, we talk about the longstanding pattern of inequities at Metro Arts and the necessity for multi-level changes in how the arts are funded in Nashville. This show is an archive and roadmap as we continue advocating for the equitable arts funding our city deserves. Support provided by Columbia University’s Incite Institute Assembling Voices fellowship. Hosted by Lydia Yousief and Christine Hall. Intro: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Cortney Warner, Kenny Rae, Alayna Renae, and Tim Northern. An Arts Equity Nashville production, originally aired live on WXNA 101.5 FM Nashville January 25, 2025.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100
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73
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YouTube
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Engagement
32
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