We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christian Sinclair. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christian below.

Alright, Christian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the many meaningful projects I’ve worked on was our “First After Five” Black History Month series at the Frist Art Museum in 2023, which aligns perfectly with Soul’d’s mission and values. As the founder of Soul’d and a former employee of the Frist, I was responsible for creative direction, talent search, and ensuring all artists and guests were well taken care of. While Soul’d has hosted a variety of different projects, this one stood out to me because we were able to make art accessible to everyone. This free event series was held every Thursday in February from 6-8 PM at the Frist Cafe, celebrated Black artists and creatives in Nashville.

It featured live music, poetry, local contemporary art by talents like Marteja, XPayne, Jamal Sheats, and Megpie. Each week showcased different poets and musical performers, including Chuck Indigo, Crystal Rose, Quez Cantrell, and Raemi. The project was particularly meaningful as it provided a platform to elevate Black voices and art, fostered community connections, and supported local artists. It was an opportunity to educate attendees about Black history and contemporary Black culture through artistic mediums, while creating a space for celebration and artistic expression.

The impact on the community, the chance to bring together diverse talents, and the ability to make art accessible to all made this project rewarding, especially as it allowed me to continue contributing to the Frist’s mission even after my employment there had ended.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Sinclair, cultural curator and advocate for creative community. I’m the founder of Soul’d Creative Collective and work full-time in pharmaceuticals as a communications manager. I founded Soul’d Creative Collective, a 501c3 non-profit organization, to bridge the power of art, culture, and community. We identified a critical problem: the lack of access to safe spaces that celebrate BIPOC arts and culture. In response, Soul’d hosts events, workshops, panels, provides resources for creatives, and much more. Our mission is to increase access to BIPOC arts and culture through education, collaboration, and access for the BIPOC community.

Community, creativity, and culture are the guiding principles of my work. I believe that when we bring together these experiences, we create a platform for change and transformation. They enable us to inspire and empower individuals to embrace their creative potential, foster connections, and drive meaningful change in Nashville.

We’re committed to giving back to the community. We encourage all our members to get involved in various projects that serve others in the Nashville area, believing that active participation in volunteer work can create a positive impact and inspire change. A great example of this is our “Nashville’s Got Soul” talent night, where proceeds went to Amqui Elementary School, demonstrating our commitment to supporting local education through the arts.

What sets us apart is our focus on BIPOC arts and culture, our commitment to community engagement, and our holistic approach to creativity. We’re not just about hosting events; we’re about building a supportive ecosystem for creatives and fostering a more inclusive cultural landscape in Nashville.
I’m most proud of the impact we’ve had on individual artists and the broader community. Seeing creatives find their voice, collaborate, and thrive through our initiatives is incredibly rewarding.

For potential clients, followers, and fans, I want you to know that Soul’d is more than just an organization – it’s a movement. We’re here to amplify voices, break down barriers, and create opportunities. Whether you’re an artist looking for support, a community member seeking enriching experiences, or someone passionate about cultural diversity, there’s a place for you here. You can support Soul’d by making a donation, attending our events, or sharing your ideas for new initiatives. We’re always open to collaboration and believe that together, we can create a more vibrant, inclusive, and culturally rich Nashville.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The primary goal driving my creative journey is creating spaces where creatives feel genuinely welcome and valued. This mission has been at the core of Soul’d Creative Collective from the beginning, but we’re now shifting into a new, more comprehensive approach. Our evolving mission focuses on providing tangible resources for people in the creative community.

I want Soul’d to be more than just an events organizer or a networking platform. My vision is for it to become a true home for innovation, collaboration, support, and success. This means we’re expanding our efforts to offer practical tools, mentorship, and opportunities that can directly impact the careers and lives of creatives.

We’re looking at ways to provide resources such as workspace, equipment, professional development workshops, and connections to industry professionals. The idea is to create an ecosystem where artists and creatives don’t just showcase their work, but also find the support they need to grow, evolve, and thrive in their careers. We want to be a hub for success stories, where creatives can point to Soul’d as a key factor in their professional development.
Collaboration is a huge part of this vision. We’re fostering an environment where creatives from different disciplines can come together, share ideas, and create groundbreaking work.

By providing a supportive structure for these collaborations, we hope to spark new innovations in the Nashville creative scene and beyond. Ultimately, my goal is to build a community that not only celebrates creativity but actively nurtures it. I want Soul’d to be known as the place where creatives come to find their tribe, hone their craft, and launch their careers to new heights. It’s about creating a legacy of empowerment and success in the creative world, starting right here in Nashville.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Early in my creative journey, I thought being “creative” meant I had to be a hands-on artist in a traditional sense, – a painter, musician, writer, or similar. I felt pressure to fit into one of these specific categories. However, as I explored the creative world, I realized that creativity extends far beyond direct art-making. I discovered roles like curator and creative director, which allow for a different kind of creative expression. These positions involve shaping visions, bringing ideas together, and guiding creative projects – all highly creative endeavors in their own right.

This realization was, well.. liberating. I learned that being an “executive creative” – someone who directs, curates, or manages creative projects – is just as valid and important as being the artist who creates the work directly. It’s about having a vision, understanding various creative fields, and knowing how to bring different elements together to create something impactful.

Unlearning the idea that I had to be a traditional “artist” to be truly creative opened up new possibilities. It allowed me to explore my strengths in organization, vision-setting, and bringing people together – skills that are crucial in roles like creative direction and curation.

This journey of unlearning has been transformative. It’s expanded my understanding of the creative industry and my place within it. I’ve learned to value my ability to see the big picture, to connect different creative elements, and to guide projects to fruition. Most importantly, it’s helped me embrace a more fluid and inclusive definition of what it means to be a creative professional.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/sould615/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.csinclair/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiandsinclair/

Image Credits

All images and photographs are the exclusive property of Soul’d Creative Collective. All rights reserved.