The Community Arts Collective, a Nashville-based non-profit, was founded by Bryson Finney in 2024 with the mission of building community through music. Although officially established in 2024, the organization’s work began in 2018 with the launch of its flagship program, the “We Are Nashville Festival” uniting today’s creatives, developing tomorrow’s sound.

Bryson Finney, Founder and Director, is a songwriter, arranger and music educator in the Nashville area. His goal has always been to inspire young minds and ignite dreams which he believes can be accomplished through building community. “You can change a child’s mindset and trajectory in life simply by who and what you expose them to,” says Finney. Developing programing that unites creatives from the student to the professional, in an effort to inspire community and build meaningful connections is at the core of the Collective.

In 2024, the Collective introduced a new program called “Saturday Soundcheck” which blends artistry access, music development, and community building through song creation. Developed by Bryson Finney, Alice Walle, Marisa Frank, and DaJuana Hammonds during the summer of 2024, this immersive musical experience began in the fall. It offers students from around the city a chance to participate in a 2-hour casual song session led by local artists and music educators.

In all programing, we are committed to providing:

Access: Providing equitable access to a diverse array of local artistry, regardless of prior experience.

Development: Building partnerships to create spaces for musical development at all levels.

Community: Creating music-based experiences that inspire, build, and nurture a sense of community for all.

Community Arts Collective

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