Today we’d like to introduce you to Corey Nash.
Corey, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started community organizing in 2013 under Ms. Cynthia Nunn at Sylvia Nunn’s Angels in the city of Compton. She opened her doors and gave me an opportunity to engage the public through numerous free events for the community. With her support, I developed a live Hip-Hop discussion forum called Rap Sessions. The sessions has evolved into a civil service vehicle and pop-up style concert series to highlight independent artists. Rap Sessions was the vehicle I created to cultivate community of artists and support the surrounding area by providing resources. After a few years of organizing events and partnering with other non-profits, a mentor of mine named Greta approached me about developing a non-profit to support artists of all mediums in Compton and beyond. In 2017, I began to establish a non-profit to support all types of artists, not just musicians. The organization has taken form and I’m currently active as the president of the Compton Artists’s Alliance.
Has it been a smooth road?
I feel like the first few years have been an uphill climb. Nowadays, it’s more like being a pioneer establishing a new territory and a new culture. Some of the biggest struggles are finding creative ways to introduce futuristic concepts and fresh ideas into a climate where the culture is rooted in tradition. The community of Compton produces some amazing artists and now we are working to establish a visible presence of an art district in the City of Compton.
Please tell us about Compton Artists Alliance.
The Compton Artists Alliance is a non-profit dedicated to supporting artists in the city of Compton and beyond. We are connecting with artists of all types that and we’ve created several pop-up art galleries over the last two years with the support of the Mayor’s Office and the City of Compton. We are empowering artists economically as well as artistically to help stimulate growth for artists that don’t always have an outlet for their work. What sets us apart is that our reach and community connections are national and global. The Compton Artists Alliance and my Rap Sessions Community Events program has joined the Global Education Exchange Coalition (GEEC) to take a trip back to Johannesburg, South Africa for our 3rd community service and cultural enlightenment. We are working with an elementary school and high school in Eldorado Park to establish art enrichment programs, a chess club, and a community garden during our 2019 trip. “Artists are responsible for telling the truth in society.” is a quote that I heard years ago and it changed the way I view and support art. This quote enhanced my interest in art long before I ever thought about becoming apart of the art industry.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see the arts community on the West Coast continuing to blossom. I think art will become much more immersive and we can expect to see more virtual reality playing a role in the way we experience art and art exhibitions. I’m looking forward to the physical shifts in the climate that will result in the establishment of more art districts within urban communities.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 310-946-0623
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @comptonartistsalliance and @rapsessions
- Twitter: @rapsessionscpt
Image Credit:
Kenobiii Photography (@kenobiii_photography)
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