LENDING LIBRARY

Metro Arts’ vision is that every Nashvillian should have access to a creative life, and few places are more accessible than our city’s public libraries.

The Lending Library, a partnership with Nashville Public Library, began in 2020 as a direct response to Nashville artists dealing with impacts of the March 3 tornado and COVID-19 outbreak. In the wake of these two major disruptions in the life and ecosystem of Nashville artists, Metro Arts devised a plan to provide direct, immediate financial support to artists and create a novel way for the greater Nashville community to access these artists and their work.

Metro Arts purchased works of visual art from local artists to launch the Lending Library, a program which allows Nashville library card holders to browse and check out works of art for a 3-month period. Starting in 2021, 60 artworks became available from NPL’s Madison and Southeast branches. In 2024, 53 additional artworks became available across NPL's Donelson, East, Green Hills,. Hermitage, and Old Hickory branches. Click on the library catalog to check availability and put an artwork on hold.