Jackson, TN: Arts for All

The Ned/City of Jackson TN

Although Jackson is only one-tenth the size of Nashville, it would be a mistake to assume that the Jackson arts scene is less vibrant than that of its larger neighbor. Jackson has a rich history and culture that gives rise to a diverse arts scene. 

Music Thrives in Jackson: A Hub for Musicians

Hunter Cross started writing songs at age 14; now, he’s a professional touring musician based in Jackson. His roots in the area run deep. Cross grew up just a few miles down the road in Medina, and he co-owns Jackson’s Third Eye Curiosities, the only brick-and-mortar record store in the 200-mile stretch between Nashville and Memphis. 

But aside from that, he says, his home is the perfect spot for musicians. 

“Jackson is in the middle of a lot of music cities: Memphis, Nashville, Florence, Alabama, Knoxville. It’s a hub of music cities,” Cross says. 

Jeff Adkins

The cultural scene in Jackson, he says, has expanded over the past decade, especially blossoming since 2021. 

“One of the silver linings of COVID is that a lot of people wanted to stay here when they graduated (from university) or move here,” he says. “There are lots of young entrepreneurs starting up with new businesses. It’s becoming more of a tourist attraction.” 

As the longtime home of rock-and-roll pioneer Carl Perkins, Cross says the city’s especially attractive to European tourists. 

“Perkins is more popular amongst people in Europe than he is for Americans,” he says. “The Americana aesthetic is very popular with foreigners. When people take the music triangle tour (of Nashville and Memphis and New Orleans), they often pass through Jackson.” 

In addition to regular performances around town, Cross has recently launched a monthly open mic jam at the Legends of Tennessee Music Museum (located in the Carnegie Center for Arts and History), where audiences can watch a variety of local talent take the stage. 

Catbird Studio/Suzanne Gillis/Kristen McAfee

Catbird Studio: A Multifaceted Creative Space

Writer and entrepreneur Suzanne Gillis hails from Nashville but has called Jackson home for the past six years. 

In 2023, she launched Catbird Studio, a multipurpose space that offers theater, photography, dance, writing, art and music lessons, as well as performances of all types and even therapeutic art sessions. 

The breadth of classes and artists working at the studio reflects Gillis’ own wide-ranging artistic interest. The self-published author formerly owned a photography studio and has experience painting and drawing, as well as working in theater. 

“I had multiple people say, ‘You need to narrow down what you do (at Catbird) because it’s going to be confusing,'” Gillis says of her initial business plan. “But I thought, ‘No, people are going to get it.” 

Recent growth in the city’s arts scene is part of Catbird’s success. 

“The growth is astronomical. When I first moved here, the arts community was there, but you had to look for it,” Gillis says. “Now, everywhere I turn, I can find live music or an art gallery. Things are popping up everywhere. The growth is huge, and I’m loving every minute of it.” 

She reels off a list of some of her favorite spots and programs around Jackson: Jackson Theatre Guild, the city’s oldest community theater; The Ned, a city-owned, 420-seat performance space; and Havner’s Frame Shop, which provides space for local artists to display their work. 

Jeff Adkins

Egghead Arts: Nurturing Creativity and Community

New York native Meg Shulman moved to Jackson in 2012, thanks partly to a built-in support system of friends who lived in the area (the warm weather didn’t hurt, either). Her artistic background is eclectic. A former school librarian, she has studied puppet making around the globe and dabbles in graphic design and painting, often subjects related to her faith. Her love of art inspires her to share her passion with others. Shulman founded Egghead Arts, which she describes as “an evolving concept” that has provided grant-writing for the arts community and art lessons and now serves all ages with creativity training and workshops. Her own broad artistic interests are a microcosm of Jackson’s creative scene at large. 

“I think Jackson’s arts and culture scene is diverse for our smaller-sized city,” she says. “Artists are often involved in things beyond their own artwork, be that owning a vintage store or directing a theater group. If you scratch the surface of the arts scene here, you’re going to find a wide diversity of people who wear many hats.”