The City of Clarksville is now home to a new entity dedicated to nurturing the local scene of arts, culture, and tourism. The Arts, Culture and Tourism, or "ACT Authority," has officially commenced operations following its inaugural meeting at City Hall. The formation of the ACT Authority, which took place earlier this week, marks a strategic move to foster community engagement in the enjoyment of Clarksville's cultural offerings, from greenways and trails to government-owned tourist hotspots and performing arts venues, as per the City of Clarksville.
Though the ACT Authority operates as an entity independent from the City government, Clarksville City Council has the exclusive privilege to assign its board members - a power they exercised in appointing seven directors upon the nomination by Mayor Joe Pitts, who voiced a belief that this board will "serve as the catalyst for the arts for generations", according to the City of Clarksville. The appointed directors include Carol Clark, James Durrett, Salome Herrera, Dwight Jemison, Keya Patel, and Peter Reyman, with Reyman stepping in as the Chairman and Durrett as Vice Chairman; the City Council is still in the process of approving a seventh member for the board.
Another essential function for the ACT Authority involves financing the expansion of the Clarksville Performing Arts Center (CPAC), through the use of debt issuance—a financial pathway the City itself is barred from by state law, hence the Authority's establishment aids in circumventing this restriction. With the ACT Authority holding title to the CPAC property, and its operations funded by generated revenue and a portion of local hotel/motel taxes - the City's allocation effective January 1, 2025, at 2.75% and the County's at 8%, with 12% of these collections funneled into the City’s General Fund, this forward move aims to economically and culturally enhance Clarksville.
The Authority is not just about infrastructure; its broader objectives detail maximizing Clarksville’s economic and social benefits through identifying cultural events, developing arts spaces, and streamlining a city-wide calendar of cultural happenings. Local arts entities such as the Arts & Heritage Council and Roxy Regional Theatre will also engage closely with the ACT Authority, submitting annual budget requests for allocation—a relationship that promises to shape Clarksville's cultural landscape in notable ways, as reported by the launch announcement.
