NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cheekwood Estate & Gardens will celebrate the creativity, innovation, and cultural impact of Black artists during the 6th annual Black Arts Bash on Saturday, August 15, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The daylong festival will feature live music, visual art, dance, spoken word, culinary experiences, family activities, and more, highlighting Black artistic expression in all its forms.
Black Arts Bash is the second of Cheekwood's four annual multicultural festivals celebrating the diverse cultures that enrich Middle Tennessee. Tickets are available now at Cheekwood.org.
This year's theme, "Next Gen," celebrates the innovation, fresh perspectives, and cultural influence of a new generation of Black artists. Live musical performances are curated by Lovenoise, an organization that has helped shape Nashville's Black music scene for more than two decades.
Visitors can enjoy performances throughout the day, explore a fine art exhibition featuring emerging and established artists, contribute to a collaborative art installation, participate in hands-on family activities, experience spoken word and dance performances, and savor culinary offerings from local Black chefs. Together, these experiences create a powerful celebration of culture, creativity, and community.
Musical Performances
The musical lineup includes Nashville-born songwriter Esi, whose sound draws from modern alternative R&B, Afrobeats, jazz, gospel, and roots music. Singer-songwriter Ten Smith will bring a powerful blend of blues, gospel, soul, and funk to the stage.
Also performing is singer, songwriter, and producer Kenny Sharp, whose signature "Brown Liquor Music" fuses multiple genres into a distinctive sound that has made him a sought-after collaborator across hip-hop, pop, country, film, and television. His dynamic live performances evoke the spirit of legendary artists such as Muddy Waters, Sly and the Family Stone, and James Brown.
Additional DJs and performers will be announced soon.
In addition to curating the musical lineup, Lovenoise will host a panel discussion exploring music and culture. Additional details will be announced soon.
Special Performance - Sankofa Drum and Dance Company
Massey Auditorium | 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Join Sankofa Drum and Dance Company for heart-pounding performances featuring traditional African drumming and dance. Sankofa is a Tennessee-based performing arts company whose mission is to rally communities around the beat of the drum to unify, heal, and inspire.
Spoken Word Performances
Artists Rooted in TN Sound & Stories (A.R.T.S.) is a Nashville-based nonprofit organization that will present an interactive open mic that invites guests to experience the power of spoken word, music, and authentic storytelling. Through open mic experiences, showcases, educational programming, and collaborative partnerships, A.R.T.S. celebrates the diverse stories that shape Tennessee's artistic landscape.
Black Arts Bash Fine Art Exhibition
Frist Learning Center Great Hall | 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Celebrating visual art alongside music, literature, food, and performance, the 2026 Black Arts Bash Fine Art Exhibition features both emerging and established artists. Part exhibition and part mentorship opportunity, this year's showcase emphasizes the “Next Gen” theme by uplifting the next generation of creatives. For the first time, rising eighth- and ninth-grade students will have the opportunity to display their work.
Collaborative Art Project
Arboretum Lawn | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Join Nashville multidisciplinary artist Nija Woods in creating a vibrant, multicolored sculpture exploring self-awareness, mental wellness, and human connection. Guests are invited to contribute their own color to the growing installation, which will evolve throughout the day into a living portrait of the values, intentions, and connections shared by the community.
Documentary Film Screening – “Transparent Colors of Nashville”
Frist Learning Center | 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
"Transparent Colors of Nashville" is a documentary produced and directed by Cortney Wade. Through conversations with Black artists and creatives, past and present, the documentary explores the history, systemic challenges, and evolving landscape of Nashville's Black arts community. The documentary will air on a continuous loop in the Bradford Meeting Room inside the Frist Learning Center.
The Urbaanite Nashville Lounge
Herb Garden | 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Long-time Black Arts Bash collaborator Urbaanite is returning to host an exciting and educational cocktail tasting experience featuring African American-owned spirits brands. The 21+ crowd can enjoy free samples while a DJ keeps the music and fun going. It’s a perfect place to hang out and socialize before catching the evening’s headline musical performance.
Family Art Activity
Herb Garden | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Guests of all ages can create torn-paper mosaics inspired by artist Alma Thomas, whose vibrant works explore the relationship between color, shape, and patterns found in nature.
Food Vendors
Homecooked favorites provided by local Black chefs will be available in Lot B from 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. An exciting lineup of local food trucks will offer tasty fare including sandwiches, burgers, and barbecue. Also, Perenn at Cheekwood will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., offering breakfast and lunch throughout the day before transitioning into a relaxed evening menu featuring casual dinner fare, seasonal salads, sandwiches, shareable plates, wine, beer, coffee, and sweet treats.
Arts and Goods Vendors
Local artisans will sell their creations in Lot B from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Curated by Britney Drake, co-founder of The Black Art Market, the marketplace will feature a diverse selection of artists, makers and small businesses offering handcrafted goods.
Ticket Information
Black Arts Bash is free for Cheekwood members. For not-yet members, tickets for adults cost $20, and youth (3-17) are free. All tickets include access to the Historic Mansion & Museum. Visit Cheekwood.org to reserve tickets.
Black Arts Bash is sponsored by HCA Healthcare. Urbaanite Nashville is the media partner.
About Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
With its intact and picturesque vistas, Cheekwood is distinguished as one of the leading Country Place Era estates in the nation. Formerly the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, the 1930s estate, with its 30,000-square-foot Mansion and 55-acres of gardens, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and art museum with furnished period rooms and galleries devoted to American art from the 18th to mid-20th centuries. The property includes 13 distinct gardens including the Blevins Japanese Garden and the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, as well as a 1.5-mile woodland trail featuring outdoor monumental sculpture. Each year, Cheekwood hosts seasonal festivals including Cheekwood in Bloom, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest and Holiday LIGHTS. Cheekwood is a 501c3 nonprofit charitable organization. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and nationally as a Level II Arboretum. It is a four-time voted USA Today Top 10 Botanical Garden, named the Most Beautiful Garden in Tennessee in 2025 by HGTV, in 2024 and 2025 received a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, and in 2021 was named by Fodors as one of the 12 Most Beautiful Gardens in the American South. Cheekwood is located eight miles southwest of downtown Nashville at 1200 Forrest Park Drive. It is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., with extended days and hours of operation depending on the season. Visit cheekwood.org for current hours and to purchase advance tickets required for admission.
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