Nsider: Kindling Arts Festival 2023

Radically Unique Performance Art Celebrates Counterculture

Karin Mathis

Karin Mathis
Managing Editor
Jul 6, 2023
Jul 6, 2023 Updated Jul 6, 2023

A futuristic space opera with intricate fight choreography set to ‘90s nu-metal. A musical comedy send-up of Nashville’s most popular social media page. An interactive late-night party reimagining classic county fair activities. Stunning feats of aerial acrobatics. A multiplicity of fascinating new dance performances. And that list is only the beginning

An iconic weekend in late July is taking shape across five venues in West Nashville: Kindling Arts Festival 2023. From July 27–30, curious guests and arts aficionados alike are invited to a wildly diverse mix of captivating theatrical mash-ups, immersive parties, unconventional gatherings, dynamic dance performances, jaw-dropping stunts and more — all celebrating the timely concept of “counterculture.” From a record-setting number of applications, this year’s Festival includes 18 performance-based projects held across various locations, including OZ Arts Nashville, The Darkhorse Theatre, Nashville School for the Aerial Arts, The Barbershop Theater, and the Global Education Center.

Kourtney Koko French of Limitless.jpg — LIMITLESS: A Dance Showcase
Photograph by Tiffany Bessire

Producing Artistic Director Daniel Jones is a Nashville-based producer, dramaturg, writer, and director passionate about facilitating creative storytelling, diverse narratives and shared live arts experiences that ignite social change. Daniel’s counterculture counterpart is Founding Artistic Director Jessika Malone. A Nashville-born producer, director, deviser, teacher and mischief-maker, Jessika has been named a “serious theatrical talent” by the Nashville Scene.

“Kindling is all about celebrating Nashville’s radically unique independent artists, and the performance projects developed in response to this year’s Festival’s theme of Counterculture truly showcase the brilliance and diversity of our local performance scene in all its iconoclastic beauty,” said Jessika and Daniel in a joint statement. “Audiences who explore the Festival programming are sure to walk away thinking about our city a bit differently – and we are thrilled to share these singular experiences with all of Nashville.”

More on Kindling Arts

Founded in 2018, Kindling Arts develops innovative new works by Nashville’s experimental artists, empowering diverse creators with the resources required to explore challenging ideas. By providing local artists with space, resources, and practical support, Kindling promotes underrepresented voices and aesthetics, making space for boundary-pushing work that would otherwise be impossible. With a focus on championing the experimental and providing a home for unclassifiable performances, Kindling enables Nashville’s most radical independent artists to explore new modes of performance-making and challenge the status quo.

Now in its 6th year, Kindling’s core programming includes the annual Kindling Arts Festival, a multi-day celebration of local artists that showcases more than a dozen diverse performances and events in various venues throughout Nashville, as well as unique arts events year-round.