NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Music City Center President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Starks joined Convention Center Authority board members and guests today to unveil new artwork to celebrate the facility’s 10-year anniversary.
The one-of-a-kind piece, titled “The First Ten Years,” is the work of local artist Tony Sobota. It measures 96” x 192” and consists of an acrylic painting on interlocking birch panels. The design concept was chosen for its creativity in representing the facility’s recent milestone. The artwork was commissioned in November and installed in February. It was kept under wraps until today’s unveiling.
“The primary inspiration for this commission came from the towering, iconic, uniquely undulating structure of the Music City Center itself,” Sobota said. “This painting is a celebration of the dedicated teams of people who help that building and its many parts function at such a high level.”
“This beautiful piece not only commemorates a decade of success but also represents a commitment to our future,” said Starks. “By making this part of our existing art collection, we’re able to showcase another local artist in our community and ultimately enhance the experience for guests in our building for the next ten years.”
Music City Center officially marked its tenth year of operation in May 2023. In the first ten years, the facility generated $3.3 billion in direct economic impact for the greater Nashville region by hosting 2,335 events with 4.4 million attendees. Since the anniversary date, the numbers continue to grow with groups contracted through 2033 and proposals obtained through 2043.
The newly unveiled artwork is part of a year-long anniversary celebration. “The First Ten Years” is on display on the east side of the Davidson Ballroom. It is now the property of Music City Center as part of the facility’s established collection, which features a broad spectrum of artistic media worth more than $2 million. The entire art collection can be viewed online at www.nashvillemcc.com/about/art-collection.
About Music City Center
Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, Music City Center is a 2.1 million square foot convention center with more than 353,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, two ballrooms, 55 meeting rooms, and a covered parking garage with 1,800 spaces. The mission of MCC is to create significant economic benefit, for the greater Nashville area while focusing on community inclusion, sustainability, and exceptional customer service through conventions, trade shows, and community events.
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