Join Us for a Creative Placemaking Webinar on Jan. 16

By Shannon Ford, Director of Community Arts Development –

The Tennessee Arts Commission will host a Creative Placemaking webinar at 1 p.m. CT on Jan. 16, 2026, spotlighting how arts-led projects are strengthening communities across the state.

The webinar will feature Ayana Williams, executive director of the Blues City Cultural Center; Ginny Togrye, artist and at-large member of the Rutherford Arts Alliance; Cristy Dunn, executive director of the Johnson County Center for the Arts; and M. Simone Boyd, a creative placemaking practitioner, former grant reviewer and artist/community organizer in North Nashville.

Launched a decade ago, the Commission’s Creative Placemaking grant program supports community-driven arts and culture projects that enhance local identity and generate positive economic and community outcomes. The program has awarded 180 grants and invested more than $1.4 million statewide, supporting initiatives ranging from public art and festivals to wayfinding, downtown music series, facility improvements and storytelling projects rooted in local history.

During the webinar, speakers will share the origins of their projects, the cultural assets that shaped their work, the role of community partnerships and the changes they observed as a result. Presenters will also discuss how creative placemaking efforts have influenced how participants and stakeholders view their communities.

Click on the button below to reserve your spot for the creative placemaking webinar.