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Mayor Freddie O’Connell will bring five more nominees for appointment to the Metro Arts Commission before the Metro Council at next week's meeting.
While arts organizations have confirmed finally receiving the first half of $3.8 million in promised grant funding this month, the rocky road to get here left the arts commission, which is responsible for making decisions on who receives grant funding, with barely enough members to make a quorum. Metro Arts has been in disarray since 2021, when allegations of racism led to an overhaul in department leadership. Following a brutal 2023, which ended with multiple departures and multiple Metro Human Relations Commission complaints against the body alleging discrimination, all eyes are on O’Connell’s appointment decisions.
Commission members, independent artists and organizations alike have all agreed that the core of the problem is a lack of adequate funding for the arts. Even so, community advocates have been highly critical of the Metro Arts Commission, pointing to the large number of lawyers who typically occupy its seats. With that in mind, the appointment of John P. Nefflen, a white attorney, on Dec. 19 didn’t leave members of the community satisfied.
Of the 15 seats on the commission, seven remain unfilled following Nefflen’s appointment. Here are the five appointees who will be reviewed by the Metro Council next week.
Timothy Jester: Jester is a certified financial planner at Roussel & Associates, a local financial planning firm.
Heather Lefkowitz: Lefkowitz is a professor at Vanderbilt University. She is also the chair of the board of directors for Actors Bridge, a midsize local theater nonprofit that focuses on elevating traditionally marginalized voices. In early December, Actors Bridge sent out a Giving Tuesday pleading for donations, explaining that the delay in Metro Arts funding could cost the organization its season.
Arlene Nicholas-Phillips: Nicholas-Phillips works in administration at Tennessee State University. She also provides finance and yoga coaching through RenuVita, a company she founded.
Dawana Wade: Wade is CEO of Salama Urban Ministries, a Christ-centered academic and performing arts after-school program.
Beverly Watts: Watts is the former director of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. She retired following a human resources report confirming allegations that Watts created a toxic work environment.
The nominees will go before the Metro Council on Tuesday for final approval. Should they be approved, their terms will last until Jan. 1, 2028.
