Artsy Fartsy is a semi-annual event started by Nashvillian Morganne Allen. It began in her front yard in 2022 with three bands and three vendors. After her landlord threatened to evict her if she did it again, she expanded to venues all across Nashville.
Happening this Thursday (August 14) at Brooklyn Bowl, each event aims to raise funds for local charities through raffles or canned food drives while featuring live performances from artists such as Avalon, Summer Joy and Jarren Blair alongside vendors including visual artists, chefs and tattoo artists. The fest is designed to ensure that all people have the opportunity to share their talents in a welcoming and accessible space.
“Art is a way to express things that you can’t really say and that’s really needed for a lot of people,” Allen said. “The goal with Artsy Fartsy was to make art accessible to people that were otherwise not being exposed to it. Partially as a mental health reason, this is something that can benefit you. Partially to benefit the artists who are spending all their time creating so they’re not going out and networking with other people or being able to share their talents all the time, or for free. Artsy Fartsy has no vendor fee or anything like that, it’s a big point for me. There’s no rules to it to be a vendor or a musician. It’s just, are you passionate about your craft? Do you want to share it? Then here’s a space for you to do that, it’s a safe environment and you’re welcome to do it. “
She continues: “My dream is to make a large scale festival that implements the aspects of Music being as important as the visual art and also the charity aspect as important as all of those things. Combining my three loves and making it something annual that’s big and people can be excited about and also just a haven from whatever is going on in their personal life.”
Additional event opportunities in the next week:
Thursday night (August 14), BRONCHO and Wilby take the Bobby Hotel rooftop stage for Backyard Sessions Curated by WNXP. On Saturday (August 16) the Black Arts Bash returns to Cheekwood Estate and Gardens with music curated by WNXP featuring Amber Ais, Kyleigh, Lizzie No, Sista Strings and the New Respects. Also on Saturday, D4VD is at Marathon Music Works.