Arcade Arts Nashville is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose goal is to create and sustain a well-supported home for the visual arts and offer affordable studio space for artists in the newly renovated historic Arcade building located in the heart of downtown Nashville. 12 studio spaces, located upstairs in the Arcade, will be dedicated to our Artist in Residence program. We host an annual Open Call to Artists with a juried selection panel and selected artists remain in-residence with us for 10 months. Arcade Arts Nashville is responsible for providing rent-free studio space to participating artists and initiating on-going programs that include professional development components, monthly art crawls, curated art events, and other activities that foster a robust promotion of the arts and artists. The goal is to create a diverse community of emerging, established and student artists.
During the two months between residencies, Arcade Arts hosts Art Between the Avenues our summer pop-up exhibition opportunity. For the months of July and August Arcade Arts turns over our Artist in Residence studio spaces to galleries, independent curators, non-profit arts organizations and artists to host exhibitions to share with the Nashville creative community. We hold an annual Open Call for Exhibition Proposals and selected proposals will be awarded one of our studio spaces for an exhibition with a three-week run.
Exhibition Opportunity
Location: Downtown Nashville's historic Arcade building between 4th and 5th Avenues (upstairs)
Opportunity: During the months of July and August Arcade Arts transforms our Artist in Residence studios into exhibition spaces. This year, in addition to inviting a number of non-profit organizations, we are accepting exhibition proposals from galleries, curators and artists who are interested in participating. Selected proposals will be awarded one of our spaces for an exhibition with a three-week run (in either July or August) and will be a part of the DADA 2nd Saturday Art Crawl. Arcade Arts will promote Art Crawls and Open Hours on their website, social media platforms and via email contacts.
Length of Exhibition: 3 weeks in either July or August 2026
Associated costs: $35 application fee. $250 studio rental fee per exhibition.
Studio Size: Average 370 square feet per studio
Eligibility: Galleries, Independent Curators and Artists (Artist solo shows are welcome)
Application deadline: May 25, 2026 (11:59pm CST)
Notification: June 1, 2026
Application restrictions: Submit one comprehensive PDF Exhibition Proposal that includes:
- Exhibition Curatorial Statement (up to 500 words)
- List of Participating Artists
- Images (up to 5)
Proposals that do not comply with the above will not be considered.
You may apply for multiple months however you must submit a separate application for each exhibition and they should be different
Guidelines for Participation:
- $250 rental fee payable upon selection (rental fee not paid in a timely manner will result in a forfeit of the studio)
- 3-week Run of Show
July 9 thru July 20, or
August 6 thru August 27
- Artist solo shows are welcome
- Studio spaces will be assigned by Arcade Arts
- Strictly adhere to install/deinstall schedule below and return space to ‘show ready’ (studio cleared, holes patched and painted, key returned) no later than the last day of deinstall
July 2026:
Install July 5 - 8 (Opening Reception/Art Crawl on July 11)
Deinstall July 30 – August 1
August 2026:
Install August 2 – 5 (Opening Reception/Art Crawl on August 8)
Deinstall August 27 - 29
- Mandatory Open Hours (2nd Saturday Art Crawl from 6 to 9pm, and Thursday – Sunday, 1 to 6pm during Run of Show)
- You will be responsible for facilitating sales. Arcade Arts does not take a commission for artworks sold.
- You will have access to the studio outside of Art Crawl and mandatory hours and are encouraged to utilize the space with independent programming