In recent years, the world has discovered what locals knew all along: Nashville is so much more than a country music mecca. While institutions like the and pay fitting tribute to the city’s musical heritage, local culture also is enhanced by visual and performing arts, architecture, renowned museums, historic landmarks and more.
- Nashville is home to countless music venues, including several devoted to rock, jazz, pop, Americana and soul. In addition to the larger stages downtown, several legendary venues—including and —are within easy walking distance of Vanderbilt’s campus.
- Housed in a marble building that once served as the city’s main post office, is at the heart of Nashville’s visual arts community. As a non-collecting museum, the Frist focuses on hosting traveling exhibitions from around the world, as well as educational programming and community events.
- Nashville also has a vibrant scene for art galleries, including , , , and , among many others. During the monthly , dozens of venues host free open houses.
- In addition to its 55-acre grounds, houses a comprehensive collection of American art, including 600 paintings and more than 5,000 prints, drawings and photographs.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
- Music City is home to many performing arts organizations including the , and the . The Grammy Award-winning also performs regularly at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center downtown, and the presents everything from Broadway blockbusters to first-time theater premieres.
- Just a few blocks away from the beloved , the doors recently opened to the , the nation’s first institution dedicated to Black musicians’ innumerable contributions to our nation’s soundtrack. Vanderbilt is proud to serve as an official partner to the museum, which is committed to education and spurring meaningful discussions across and beyond the Nashville community.