Justin Branam, Centennial Park Conservancy’s vice president of programming and Musicians Corner’s executive producer, had a passion for cultivating community and connection from a young age. After growing up in Carmel, Indiana, Justin moved to Music City and dedicated himself to expanding and strengthening Nashville’s arts community.
During his early years in Nashville, Justin worked for an anti-poverty organization that collaborated with the mayor’s office to address academic remediation through arts-based programming. He later worked on CMT’s Skyville Live series and became a founding board member of Make Music Nashville, a nonprofit music festival hosted in neighborhoods across the city.
Justin has since found a home at the Centennial Park Conservancy, where he coordinates programming and champions Musicians Corner, a free concert series that provides paid work to local musicians and makes live music more accessible for the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Justin created viral “I miss hugs and live music” T-shirts, which raised over $100,000 to pay artists for Musicians Corner virtual programming. Those efforts earned him a nod from Matthew McConaughey and Wild Turkey, who honored him as a “Local Legend.”
What did you want to be when you grew up? I was fascinated by sports as a kid, and I wanted to be a professional baseball player so I could have my very own baseball card. I started playing guitar at 13, and it changed my life forever. I started digging into music, which led me down a path of travel and exploring art and culture.
What brings you joy about what you do? Centennial Park serves Nashvillians from all neighborhoods, as well as visitors from all over the world. I love seeing a diverse group of people who wouldn’t otherwise connect come together to collectively enjoy and experience the outdoors, art, music, education and culture.
What legacy do you hope to create for Musicians Corner? I hope that years from now, Musicians Corner will still be a champion for artists, while also making Music City’s greatest asset accessible to everyone who lives here or visits.
What was it like to receive a nod from Matthew McConaughey? When I received the email informing me that I was selected as a Local Legend by Matthew McConaughey, I thought it was spam. It wasn’t until reading the email a few times that I concluded it might be real. Keeping live music alive during the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly important to me. It was a dark time for those of us in live music, and I was grateful to be honored for my work during that time.
What impact have you seen Musicians Corner have on the community? I don’t think the program could exist in the same capacity in another city, and it exemplifies many of the things that make Nashville a unique place to live. Musicians Corner is one of the last bastions of free live music in Nashville, and it feels more important than ever to preserve its legacy for years to come.
Outside of Musicians Corner, what are some of your favorite programs throughout the year? I have the honor of working with a talented team to present Nashville Earth Day, Kidsville, Yoga in the Park and more. Centennial Park is also home to Celebrate Nashville, Big Band Dances, Tennessee Craft and many other incredible free events.
When you’re not executing great programming for Centennial Park, where might we find you on a Saturday night? Eating pizza at Smith & Lentz, or spinning records at home with my wife and kids.
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