Meet Mary Grissim | Arts Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Grissim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had worked in the Nashville arts community for over 20 years in various capacities. I had been a working artist selling my own artwork, I had worked for a local museum as Director of Education, and I had served on several Board of Directors for arts organizations. All of these experiences taught me new skills in program development, fundraising, project management, and hiring and working with creative people. After 20+ years I was tired of working 8-5 and sitting in an office all day with very little flexibility. I made the decision to start my own business and become a consultant for arts organizations. The Grissimgroup was started in 2010 and has been the most successful and rewarding part of my career to date. It has allowed me to have more freedom and creativity than any previous job. I have had multiple interesting clients, I have made my own schedule, I travel when I want and can work anywhere there is a cell phone connection and a laptop.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a consultant for arts organizations in Nashville, TN. I took 20+ years of experience of working in the arts community and turned it into a successful and rewarding business that has allowed me a lot of personal freedom and creativity. Since the start of my business in 2010 I have had three major clients: The Nashville International Airport, The Nashville Jazz Workshop and Tennessee Crafts. I was hired as a consultant by all and worked for all three organizations for most of the past 14 years. I was the Curator for the Visual Arts at the Nashville Airport for 10 years, I managed a statewide program for Tennessee Crafts for 6 years and I was a program consultant for the Nashville Jazz Workshop for 10 years and currently serve as their Executive Director. My strengths are I am good at working with creative people of all types, I enjoy the creative process and recognize sometimes artists need help interfacing with large arts organizations. I am creative in my own approach to programming, I’m organized, and I do what I say I’m going to do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
To experience art in Nashville I would take my friend to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art, The Frist Art Museum and the Country Music Hall of Fame. All excellent museums. To see local galleries Zeitgeist, Red Arrow Gallery, Chauvet Arts, and The Copper Fox in Leipers Fork.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Bill Himes, a consultant in Nashville who was working with me to develop a Sales Program for a nonprofit I was employed by. After several sessions, I told him I didn’t like “sales” and I was tired of my job and needed a change. He recommended I consider being a consultant. He said I had the right personality for the job. I quit my job, and Bill gave me the book by Dr Seus, “Oh the Places You’ll Go” as a gong away gift. I never looked back, kept moving forward and persevered.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-grissim-aa620072

Image Credits
Mary Grissim
Larry Seeman