Memphis Culture Coalition to Host State of the Arts: Mayoral forum 2026
Memphis Culture Coalition (MCC), in partnership with Historic Clayborn Temple and powered by Memphis-based social enterprise The Big We, will host State of the Arts: Mayoral Forum 2026 on Monday, April 6th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Memphis Museum of Science & History, located at 3050 Central Avenue.
State of the Arts is a citywide civic gathering designed to put Memphis' creative and arts community at the center of the mayoral conversation. The evening will bring together artists, musicians, designers, entrepreneurs, storytellers, and cultural leaders for a structured forum in which Memphis mayoral candidates respond directly to the priorities and questions of the creative community. Last election cycle, State of the Arts was the largest attended mayoral forum in the city. This year, Memphis Culture Coalition is expecting more than 300 attendees.
"State of the Arts exists because Memphis culture is not a backdrop to this city — it is the heartbeat of it," said Anasa Troutman, CEO of The Big We. "The people who make up Memphis' creative economy deserve to look the next mayor of this city in the eye and ask, directly, what you plan to do for them. That is what April 6th is."
The evening will open with a presentation from Memphis Culture Coalition highlighting the past year in Memphis arts and culture — the wins, the momentum, and what the creative community needs most to continue growing. From there, the forum begins. In a guided format with audience participation, mayoral candidates will respond to questions about how they plan to support and invest in Memphis arts, culture, and the creative economy.
Memphis Culture Coalition is a coalition of creatives, small business owners, and employees of Memphis-based arts and cultural organizations. The group meets monthly to solidify their collective civic voice and build a sustained case for Memphis' creative economy, making the argument that investing in Memphis culture is an investment in the health, identity, and future of the entire city. State of the Arts is MCC's most significant annual civic moment, and the forum's format ensures that candidates are not just speaking to the creative community, but with it.
"Memphis has one of the most powerful creative cultures in the world, and our people have been building this city through their art, their music, their stories, and their businesses for generations," said Troutman. "State of the Arts is about making sure that power has a seat at the table when decisions are being made about Memphis' future."
State of the Arts is an anchor event of In This Place, an annual citywide season of culture, community, and capital rooted in the legacy of Historic Clayborn Temple — one of two National Treasures in Tennessee and a living symbol of strength, dignity, and hope in Memphis. As Historic Clayborn Temple is being reimagined and rebuilt for a 2028 reopening, The Big We continues to carry its spirit forward through programming and events that connect, elevate, and invest in the Memphis community.
Attendance is free and open to the public. RSVPs are encouraged and can be made by clicking here.
For more information about State of the Arts, Memphis Culture Coalition, and the full In This Place 2026 season, contact The Big We Marketing & Communications Manager, Kameron Williams, at kameron@thebigwe.com.