Memphis, TN – May 11, 2024 – The UrbanArt Commission (UAC) participated in the second annual Art For All Festival, a vibrant celebration of Shelby County's arts and culture, held on May 11, 2024, from 11 am to 3 pm at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

The festival, hosted by Shelby County Government, featured dozens of arts and culture organizations offering live performances, pop-up galleries, art activations, family activities, and local food trucks. This free event aimed to immerse attendees in the region's diverse and thriving arts scene, fostering community connection and neighborhood identity.

Event Highlights:

  • Interactive Map & Visual Displays by UrbanArt Commission

  • Mini Mobile Metal Museum (M4) with forge and foundry demonstrations from the Metal Museum

  • Performances by Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group, Iris Collective, Memphis Black Arts Alliance, Memphis Youth Arts Initiative, and Playhouse on the Square

  • Interactive Art Activities from Arrow Creative, Opera Memphis, and RiverArtsFest

  • Traveling Exhibit “I AM” presented by Historic Clayborn Temple

  • Art and Culture Activations from Orpheum Theatre and Stax Museum

Attendees also explored the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art Exhibition featuring prominent American designer Christian Siriano: People Are People, along with the museum’s permanent collection and interactive artmaking activities.

For more information about the Art For All campaign, visit 901ArtForAll.com, which includes event details, stories on art and culture, and a detailed map featuring art and culture organizations across Shelby County. Artists and organizations interested in getting involved can contact Nykesha Cole at Nykesha.Cole@shelbycountytn.gov.

Quotes from the Event:

  • Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris: "Shelby County is a diverse, creative community that celebrates the importance of local talent and the potential to bring people together through art. The Art For All Festival allows local artists to showcase their work, offers family-friendly art activities, and introduces our shared culture to more of our neighbors. We hope this event will once again be a great success and contribution to the cultural heritage of Shelby County."

  • Zoe Kahr, Executive Director, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art: "We’re thrilled to collaborate with our friends across Shelby County’s vibrant arts organizations to bring you this year’s Arts for All Festival. We’re especially grateful to our colleagues at Shelby County and the efforts of the Arts & Culture Nonprofit Committee who dreamed up this festival which does such a beautiful job of showcasing Shelby County’s creative scene."

  • Pat Mitchell Worley, President & CEO, Soulsville Foundation: "As stewards of culture and champions of creativity, we understand the vital role arts education plays in shaping the future. By fostering a deep appreciation for music and embracing the arts, we empower youth with the ability to express, connect, and innovate. Supporting the arts isn't just a choice; it's a commitment to nurturing the soul of our community, enriching lives, and fostering a legacy of inspiration for generations to come, which is why Soulsville Foundation is thrilled to be a part of this year's Art for All Festival."

  • Lar’Juanette Williams, Executive Director, Memphis Black Arts Alliance: "Being that we live in a city that has a legacy for creating artistic works that have extensive impact globally, dating all the way back to the late 1800s with Beale Street and W.C. Handy, to continue the surge of Memphis' creative expression is not only a 'cool' thing, but a necessary one. Furthermore, bringing all of our extraordinary local creatives together to not only celebrate each other but to give our community a bird's eye view of what is to come for our future generations is what makes Memphis and Shelby County, TN artistically unparalleled to any other city and county in our country."

For more details on the festival and future events, visit 901ArtForAll.com.