The McGruder Family Resource Center has long been a cornerstone of North Nashville, first as the John Early School, now a vital resource hub. Following a year-long renovation, the building will now be fully ADA-accessible, serving the community in new ways. The McGruder (Art) Access (Art) project will harness the creative problem-solving skills of artists to make the center more navigable, inclusive, and welcoming for people of all abilities.
Led by artist Courtney Adair Johnson, and two artist teams, the project draws on lived experiences with autism, deafness, blindness, wheelchair use, and harm awareness. By merging artistic vision with accessibility expertise, the team will work alongside the community to identify barriers, reimagine movement through the building, and design practical tools such as maps, QR codes, brochures, and signage.
This process ensures the resulting accessibility plan reflects the real needs of North Nashville’s diverse population, from long-time residents to new visitors. For the community, it means greater independence and connection within a central neighborhood hub. For the artists, it is an opportunity to expand their practice into meaningful, applied design that directly shapes how people experience and belong in shared spaces.
Artist teams:
