POVA IN THE NEWS: Julie Hullett Concierge Blog - A Safe Place

By: Julie Hullett

Not having a safe place to live is something that some Nashvillians face every day. It’s a reality that we are all aware of and most of us do what we can to help. We buy the Contributor, give to food banks and hand out water to our friends on the street corner… Still, we wish we could do something that had a greater positive impact, something to throw the doors of opportunity wide open.

Let me introduce you to the Artist Collective.

Many people who find themselves without a home have backgrounds that include criminal behavior, physical disabilities, and/or mental illnesses. These make it difficult and even impossible to maintain what most consider a normal life. For these individuals, holding down a traditional 40-hour-a-week job is not possible. They also often lack the emotional stability and skills needed for even the most basic employment. Many times these individuals do not have a consistent support system to help them overcome these challenges.

That’s where the Artist Collective steps in.

The Artist Collective here in Nashville serves people who struggle with homelessness and all the challenges that have caused this reality in their life. Many individuals impacted by homelessness have either an artistic background or a desire to explore creative outlets. The Collective has been able to work with more than 25 artists in the last three years; currently, there are 12 active artists, ages 26 to 66, involved with the Artist Collective. Art materials and studio space are offered for those in the program. Individuals are given plenty of opportunities to exhibit what they create. The members of the Collective show their work during the Second Saturday Art Crawl in the Houston-Wedgewood Area.