Artistic and creative careers are among the most rewarding, but they also come with unique challenges. We asked some of the city’s best creatives to tell us why they choose to pursue a creative career.

Vanessa Lynn Bird | Singer-Songwriter & Information Architect

I am a pop country singer-songwriter in Nashville in addition to being an Information Architect at a top ranking Fortune 500 company. My dad and mom always encouraged me to have a job that would enable me to be independent and fund my dreams, and they also believed in my voice, songwriting, and stage presence. I graduated college two years early, started supporting myself, and dove into my music career. Read more>>

Marquia Fenner | Resin artist and network engineer

My full time job is in engineering in the telecom field. I’ve always loved art and design, but my logical and analytical side has taken over my career choices. During the pandemic I had much more time to fully explore my artistic side, and for once share it with my friends and family. The support I received was amazing and led me to start my own art business. Read more>>

Erin Arnold | Owner and Creator

Ive never seen myself working in an office setting for my career. Growing up Ive always thrived in art/creative courses. It only made sense to continue doing things that resonated with creativity. It isnt easy being an owner because some days I just want to create and not have to think of labels or pricing or promoting. Its all satisfying in the end when everything is packaged and labeled for my amazing customers! Read more>>

Small Town | Singer

When I look back on my life, I want to see physical representations of my experiences and feel proud of those things. I believe that my purpose in this lifetime is to share my experiences through creative avenues. I’ve been a worker for other companies and I never felt the connection to the work like I do when I’m creating my own things or performing. Read more>>