Spotlight: coronavirus in Nashville, Tennessee
21.07.2023 - 08:15
/ roughguides.com
Nashville, the state capital of Tennessee, wears its musical heart on its sleeve. It’s long been heralded as the home of country music, with a raft of live-music venues – including the renowned Grand Ole Opry – the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Johnny Cash Museum. With so much to offer, we chatted with Butch Spyridon, President and CEO of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation, to find out how the city was experiencing coronavirus and – looking ahead – what its plans were for bringing travellers back.
Butch Spyridon, president and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation © private archive
Q: What has Nashville’s experience of coronavirus been like? Have there been some positive stories emerging during this time?
A: Nashvillians’ renowned southern hospitality and historic community spirit in challenging times has always been at the heart of our city, and as we face our biggest challenge yet this has really shone through in the banding together of artists to the hospitality sector to the healthcare industry.
From the beginning of the outbreak, we worked closely with city and public health officials to launch Community Assessment Centers throughout the city, that are free to anyone who wanted to be tested. Mayor John Cooper also introduced a COVID-19 Response Fund where individuals could receive help with mortgage payments, food, household items, utility payments and direct financial assistance.
Meanwhile, the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville launched the Greater Nashville Artist Relief Fund, designed to help sustain local artists with $500 grants, while Governor Lee launched the Tennessee Talent Exchange to provide employment opportunities to those seeking temporary work during this time.
In true Nashville fashion our artists and songwriters have been online keeping the music playing with virtual concerts, which helped to keep spirits up. Local chefs also gave their time through a partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee to fund hourly workers at our restaurants and in return also feed those in our community who were struggling.
As we begin to look forward, as the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) we have collaborated with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Ryman Hospitality group to introduce the Good to Go educational programme, giving businesses across the city ongoing access to key resources as well as one-on-one advice from leading infectious disease experts to guide them through the reopening process.
Listening Room Cafe © Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation
Q: During lockdown, a series of virtual experiences enabled people to “visit Nashville from home”. Can you tell us a bit more about this campaign: what were