Description
Pulse of Progress, funded by a Metro Arts Thrive Grant, is a arts ecosystem building pilot project that examined the impact of providing resources; building and connecting missing links in ecosystems; and then activating the full ecosystem can help artists thrive. As part of ecosystem activation, Pulse of Progress activities culminated into an invite-only participatory art experience developed by Greater Than Equal as part of the Taste —a curated event series designed to activate ecosystems to drive systemic change. Pulse of Progress focused on building and examining the ecosystem artists need to thrive. Rather than simply mapping connections, the project explored what it takes to activate an arts ecosystem—where funding, relationships, and community energy converge to support artistic visions and amplify impact.
Pulse of Progress: Celebration of the Nashville Arts Scene event was anchored by featured artist Shabazz Larkin, whose meditative, hands-on installation centered themes of healing, impermanence, and rebirth. It also featured ecosystem-centered participatory works by:
LeXander Bryant (Archive South): cyanotype and memory-based installations
Danielle Myers in collaboration with Urban Green Lab and John Early Magnet Middle School: The Wildflower Project, a youth-led eco-art initiative
Dr. Megan Jordan (Bee in a Cloud): participatory ecosystem mapping experience
Big Fella Studio: open studio and visual storytelling
Sound and atmosphere were shaped by DJ Raiden, and the evening was visually documented by artists Mark D. Jackson, Aaron Kirkland, and Joseph Patrick (Photojojo).
The project’s outcomes demonstrate that building an ecosystem is not just about providing resources or listing connections—it’s about activation. Pulse of Progress: Celebration of the Nashville Arts Scene event brought together organizations, artists, community members, and supporters into a shared space that fostered new collaborations, unlocked funding, and elevated voices. This convergence culminated in an ecosystem moment—where ties between community members, artists, and institutions were strengthened through shared experience.
Pulse of Progress offered model for how immersive events can be a powerful step in the process of catalyze ecosystems—not just conceptually, but through embodied participation, co-creation, and meaningful connection.
