Nashville public arts funds should not go to private universities be it Fisk or Vanderbilt

Joyce Quirk
·1 min read

Re: “Metro Arts must deliver on its antiracism commitments,” by Daniel Singh, May 4.

I take issue with Metro Arts Executive Director Daniel Singh’s guest opinion column in which he asserts that Metro Arts must be a racist organization because it had never given funds to the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

And why would they? Fisk is a private university not under the umbrella of Metro Nashville government.

Community members and Metro Council members watch as Metro Human Relations Commission Director of Policy and Research Ashley Bachelder explains the findings of an investigation into discrimination complaints regarding Metro Arts Commission grant funding in 2023.
Community members and Metro Council members watch as Metro Human Relations Commission Director of Policy and Research Ashley Bachelder explains the findings of an investigation into discrimination complaints regarding Metro Arts Commission grant funding in 2023.

Would Mr. Singh be pleased to have Metro Arts give money to the Lipscomb University Gospel Choir (a real thing!)?

And surely not to the Jazz department at what I’m certain he considers “patron class” Vanderbilt University?

Bexx Chin, Elisheba Israel Mrozik and Robert Jones stand at the Kossie Gardner Sr. Park in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. Mrozik painted the mural in the background and is the president of North Nashville Arts Coalition. Jones and Chin work at Overton Arts at the 100 Taylor Arts Collective. Metro Arts reduced funding for the coalition and collective this year.

My tax dollars shouldn’t be going to any private university.

Joyce Quirk, Nashville 37212

Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@tennessean.com. Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville arts: Public money should not go to private universities