Metro Arts: Nashville Office of Arts + Culture is pleased to announce the appointment of four new commissioners to the Metro Arts Commission. They bring a wide range of industry experience and are deeply invested in the success of Nashville’s arts ecosystem.
Darek Bell is the owner and founder of Corsair Distillery. Trained at the Siebel Brewing Institute, he is also a graduate of the Bruichladdich Distilling Academy in Islay, Scotland. Bell has written two books on brewing and distilling and was named one of the “10 most pioneering distillers” by Spirits Business Magazine. A Nashville native and local business owner, Darek is passionate about engaging with his community and strongly believes in the positive impact that the arts can have on the city. He hopes to share his expertise, creativity and innovation as a successful entrepreneur and investment in the local economy to create more opportunities for the arts to thrive.
After working in the Tennessee General Assembly for nearly a decade, Leah Dupree Love founded Dupree Consulting Group and assists clients with business formation and succession. She is a strong advocate for women and people of color and has held leadership roles in various organizations, including Women in Numbers and the Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance. Love has also served as the President of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration. Leah has a deep appreciation for the arts and sees the power that the arts have on social and emotional growth, especially for youth. She wishes to create more opportunities for individual self-expression, joy and healing through the arts in ways that can impact the entire community.
Janet Kurtz is the Editor-in-Chief of Nfocus Magazine. Janet has lived in Nashville for 25 years and for over 20 years supported the hospitality industry in successfully creating and executing their vision through strategic marketing, sales and public relations. She is currently a board member at Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee and past co-chair of Nashville Repertory Theater’s annual gala, Broadway Brunch and past board member of Nashville Wine Auction. Janet’s love for the arts started at a very young age when her parents introduced her to dance. Since then, she has witnessed the powerful impact that the arts have on a person’s creativity, education and personal development.
Throughout her legal career and most recently as the Davidson County Chancellor, Carol McCoy has worked to make her home state of Tennessee a better place. In addition to serving on various boards for nonprofit organizations in Nashville, Carol was also the first woman President of the Tennessee Judicial Conference and a founding member of the Lawyers Association for Women. Her community impact also includes work with the Metro Action Commission, which works to provide economic security to families in poverty. Carol has served as a Commissioner on the Tennessee Arts Commission as well as Trustee for Watkins School of Art, Film, and Design. She looks forward to her work with Metro Arts.
The next meeting of the Arts Commission is on Thursday, May 18 from 12-2pm. More information about all Commission meetings can be found here on the nashville.gov website: Arts Commission Events