WHEREAS, creative offices within the Metropolitan Government have suffered severe neglect, due to a lack of substantial movement on the hiring of the executive directors of both the Nashville Office of Entertainment and the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission (“Metro Arts”); and
WHEREAS, the Nashville Office of Music, Film and Entertainment was announced in 2022 by Mayor John Cooper and enacted into law by the Metropolitan Council in April 2023; and
WHEREAS, more than 120 people applied to serve as the executive director of the Nashville Office of Music, Film and Entertainment in December 2024, but no interviews or final hires have occurred; and
WHEREAS, the Nashville Office of Music, Film and Entertainment was renamed the Nashville Office of Entertainment through an ordinance passed by the Council in June 2025. The same ordinance removed any requirement that the Office’s executive director and staff be organized under the Mayor’s Office; and
WHEREAS, additional barriers have been placed in recent months towards the hiring of this executive director, including a change in hiring authority, a delay in creating the position within the Metropolitan Government’s payroll system, claims that the Nashville Office of Entertainment does not exist under law, and a failure to file necessary administration legislation to transfer the funds for the position to the Nashville Office of Entertainment; and
WHEREAS, separately, Metro Arts has been without an executive director since May of 2024. Two interim directors have since led Metro Arts; and
WHEREAS, Metro Arts needs a full-time director with arts organization experience so that the department can heal, function, build back public trust and rebuild the staff; and
WHEREAS, since the departure of the previous executive director, public distrust of Metro Arts continues in the creative community, and grant award outcomes have not fully progressed towards equitable distribution; and
WHEREAS, Nashville is a creative city-“Music City”-and the Metropolitan Government should show that it is aware of the importance of that role and should make every effort to fill these two important jobs; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor’s Office, the Metropolitan Government and the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission should continue the processes to hire executive directors for both the Nashville Office of Entertainment and Metro Arts no later than December 31, 2025.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as urging the Mayor’s Office and the Metropolitan Government to provide hiring plans to the Metropolitan Council regarding the executive director positions for the Nashville Office of Entertainment and the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission no later than December 1, 2025, and begin filling the positions no later than December 31, 2025.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.