The City of Memphis is taking an innovative approach to cultivate its creative sector by appointing DeMarcus Suggs as the inaugural Director of the Office of Creative and Cultural Economy. This move aims to blend the city's historic cultural prowess with sustainable economic growth, as announced on the City of Memphis official website.
Backed financially by a suite of local organizations including the Hyde Foundation, AutoZone, Assisi Foundation, International Paper, and the McEniry Family Foundation, Suggs' appointment signals a concerted effort to leverage Memphis' creative heartbeat from music to visual arts, in enhancing the city’s economic tapestry; prior to this role, Suggs elevated the Mid-America Arts Alliance with a remarkable revenue portfolio and orchestrated the Delta Arts and Culture Ecosystem Initiative strategy. Still, he draws from an entrepreneur's spirit as the founder of Kuumbuntu, LLC.
At the helm of the newly minted office, Suggs will develop strategies to boost the visibility and economic influence of the city's creative talents, "In Memphis, arts, culture, and creativity are part of who we are. Leaning into our creative strength and building up our creative economy is essential to our future success," indicated Teresa Sloyan, Hyde Family Foundation President, emphasizing the gravitas of Suggs’ role, as detailed by the City of Memphis.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young heralded the partnership with local donors and the city's anticipation for Suggs’ impact "We are excited about this work and the community partnerships that have helped to fund it. Our goal is to strengthen the role that culture and the creative arts play in our local economy. We look forward to the positive impact this work will have on our city and believe DeMarcus’ background makes him perfectly suited to the task at hand," Young told the City of Memphis, capturing the shared sentiment for Suggs' arrival and the city's cultural prospects.
