POVA IN THE NEWS: Nashville Scene - Local Arts Programs Give Voice to Underserved Communities
Poverty and the Arts, Backlight Productions and Street Theatre Company aim to empower.
By: Amy Stumpfl
If you’d asked artist and writer Bandy a few years ago about the idea of sharing a deeply personal poem in front of an audience, they would have said it was impossible. But that was before they joined the Poverty and the Arts (POVA) Artist Collective in April.
“I never could have imagined having this kind of opportunity before,” says Bandy, who primarily works in watercolor and acrylics, but also enjoys writing and music. Bandy, who goes by just one name, is nonbinary and uses the pronoun “they.” “Finding POVA was so important for me. It’s opened up so many ideas and opportunities for collaboration. Having this wonderful community built around creative people gives me hope. It gives me the opportunity to speak my truth.”
In fact, Bandy will present a poem called “Speak” at INFAMI: An Evening of Spoken Word on Dec. 8. Billed as a “multiple-media project founded in poetry,” the event is presented by 21c Museum Hotel in partnership with the Metro Arts Commission, The Free Nashville Poetry Library and POVA. INFAMI will explore themes — including love, ancestry, brotherhood and visibility — through spoken word, dance and visual arts. The ensemble includes artists from various backgrounds, including those who have been affected by homelessness.
“This is an idea I came up with last year,” says Cameron Mitchell, a spoken-word artist and actor who teaches poetry through arts nonprofit Southern Word. “I wanted to create a space where poets could reflect on a specific topic or issue that impacts our community. I feel like art is a great way to bring people to the table to talk about what’s happening — to look at what it means to struggle or to feel invisible.”
That’s a theme with which Bandy connected.
“I experienced homelessness many years ago in New York City, and I’ve dealt with a lot of mental health issues,” says Bandy. “That’s the reason I’m so vocal about it. My poem is very personal. It’s me verbalizing my own perspective. But it’s also universal. I think anyone who’s ever felt marginalized or actively silenced can relate.”
Empowerment is also a driving force for Backlight Productions, a nonprofit theater arts organization for adults with special needs in Franklin. Partnering with professional artists and theater companies, Backlight offers a variety of classes and produces shows that allow its participants to shine.
“Back in 2011, I was working at Our Thrift Store, a Franklin business that employs people with disabilities,” explains Melissa Smith, Backlight’s executive director. “My background is in musical theater, but I absolutely fell in love with the people at the store. My manager asked if I’d ever considered combining those passions, and so we decided to put on a show. I wrote a script based on a fairy tale. We pulled costumes and props from the store and rehearsed upstairs. We did a performance at a local church in front of maybe 40 people. And by the end of it, everyone was in tears — it was amazing.”
Today Backlight serves a community of about 50 students, ages 18 to 60, and has partnered with Studio Tenn, Nashville Shakespeare Festival and Nashville Repertory Theatre.
“Our largest program allows students to work over the course of eight months to produce a full Broadway musical,” Smith says. “All roles are tailored to fit each student’s abilities. For some, just the act of getting onstage is a huge deal. For others, it’s all about learning lines or a new song or dance. And because they can’t age out of our program, we can create individual goals — and uncover new abilities — from year to year.”