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Today, we are hearing from Dear Music Festival founder Vicky Love, musician Mia Michelle + artisan Natasha Davidson on the nonprofit’s mission + the impact it’s had on local musicians, artists, and community.
Vicky Love, founder
Dear Music, Nonprofit (founded in 2015) began as a “Dear God” letter. That letter later turned into Dear Music, the organization. The letter was a thank you letter to God expressing thanks for my talents and gifts in the arts. Those same talents and gifts created opportunities for me, as well as allowed me to lead as a catalyst for change for others in the world of arts and STEM advocacy.
Dear Music Festival has been in the planning stages for over 3 years now. I planned to have it in 2019, however due to COVID-19, the event was pushed back. But of course, everything is divine order because, even with the challenges, I’ve received more community support and hands on deck than I believe I would have in 2019.
I envision Dear Music Festival as a collective effort among community leaders, promoters, local businesses, state and local government, etc., to not only support artists and creators but also to help boost the local economy.
I also envision it being a festival that brings communities and cultures together to celebrate all things community and music. Because we understand, and for those who don’t, music is powerful and healing.
I’ve been met with many challenges while producing this 3-day, multi-genre, multicultural festival. It’s definitely a learning curve, from the 1-day festival I host “Beale Street Artcrawl Festival in Memphis.” But I’ve also been blessed with a team who is just as passionate about supporting our communities and local businesses as well as providing a platform that continues to support artists and creators to make an income to support their families while maximizing their brand/company visibility.
I’ve been blessed with partners from Florida, Chicago, and New York who invest their resources, skills, and time to help me support Nashville local artists and creators.
“Help me help you” has always been my response to undeserved artists and creators who don’t get the monetary funding and support or the chance to get on platforms like Bonnaroo or Coachella.
The Dear Music Festival is solely funded from the pockets of my partner “Chuck” and I, including small donations from community members and our own skills and abilities to raise money to support the cause.
Our hope is that Dear Music Festival 2022 will gain more support to help further our mission to support undeserved artists and creators.
Mia Michelle, singer
I met the Dear Music founder, Vicky Love, in 2015. Vicky was hosting an event that showcased the creativity, excellence and artistry within underserved communities, and her passion towards such immediately made me want to always participate in any event she held. She fiercely advocates for inclusion and diversity by shining the spotlight on artists with autism, sharing with the LGBTQ+ community in their pride, or partnering with entrepreneurs with special needs or other abilities (we do not use the word disability because these individuals are merely enabled differently), and so many other methods. It was this love and passion that impressed and impacted me the most.
Growing up in a military household, I learned the value of diversity and the appreciation of difference. On top of that was my pastoral grandfather that always had his military daughter (my mom) and his grandkids in the choir. And yet, with every advantage I had in life, I had my share of disadvantages, and I witnessed even more. Born in Detroit, MI and having moved around to various states, I saw the same disadvantages no matter where I went. As I became older, I decided how I would change the landscape through music.
As a vocal artist, many might think the opportunity to perform is the most important aspect I consider, but that is far from the truth. While Dear Music’s platform has afforded me opportunities to perform in front of hundreds of people, moreover it has given me the opportunity to share my gift for a purpose bigger than myself. It has allowed me to embrace and be embraced by people from different backgrounds, personalities, communities, cultures, religions and so much more.
Dear Music, is more than music — it is the opening salutation of the love letter to a creative form that soothes the soul transcendent of borders and differences. This organization also hosts the Beale Street Art Crawl in Memphis, TN. It partners with entertainment companies across the US. It gives artists of every medium a platform in some way. Love is the driving force behind the leaders of this organization, and the world needs more leaders that value creativity, art and innovation from a place of compassion and empathy.
#TogetherWe can change the world one performance, one event, one business, one artist, one person at a time!
Natasha Davidson, artisan
Dear Music Festival has been an amazing asset to me both personally and professionally. It has allowed me to come in contact and network with some very influential and well-connected individuals while also allowing me to promote and bring attention to my business Nik Knacks Crafty Boutique.
My introduction to Dear Music came when I was contacted by its originator, Victoria Love, to join with her in facilitating the vendor opportunities for the festival. I initially met Ms. Love pre-Covid as a vendor for the 2020 Beale Street Art Crawl, which is also under the Dear Music umbrella.
Unfortunately, that event was cancelled due to Covid. However, she and I remained in close contact, which eventually turned into me being the primary Vendor Coordinator for the Dear Music Festival being held in Nashville.
My store, Nik Knacks Crafty Boutique, is a store dedicated to providing spaces to artists and small business owners who may not otherwise have the opportunity to grow their business in a “brick and mortar” capacity. I manage multiple vendors and coordinate vending opportunities to allow them to gain exposure in the community, and Dear Music has opened up an avenue for the visual arts to gain exposure alongside the music.
Nik Knacks Crafty Boutique is very excited to lead this segway for its vendors and artists as that’s precisely what we are about.
