About the AiM Artisan Trail (AAT)

The Arts in McNairy (AiM) Artisan Trail is an informal confederation of artists and artisans who live and work in McNairy County Tennessee.  Many of their shops and studios are open year-round, welcoming visitors daily.  Others are open for special occasions like the Artisan Trail tour events or by appointment only.  Still others sell their work through area retailers and galleries so, consult the “Artists” page on this website for more detailed information about individual artisans.  You will find potters, sculptors, glass artists, painters, broom makers, weavers, quilters, blacksmiths, woodcarvers and turners and much, much more.

Annual Events on the Artisan Trail

AAT Tour of Studios – There are two special Artisan Trail events each year.  The third weekends of March and November are the established dates for the spring and fall tour of studios sponsored by Arts in McNairy.  During these times you will find more studios open, more artists participating and even some special events scheduled to demonstrate McNairy County’s unique brand of Southern hospitality.  The stops on the biannual tours are well marked and maps and signs are provided to help you navigate the trail.  In addition to the working artisans, along the way you will find interesting historical stops pertaining to the county’s pioneer, Civil War and twentieth century history.  Great opportunities to savor some local cuisine also abound.  McNairy County is home to some of the finest “barbeque joints” in the South but the more adventurous eaters will want to sample the world famous Slug Burgers available at several county diners and cafes.  The Slug Burger is unique to southwest Tennessee and north Mississippi.                 

You will enjoy visiting us any time of year but fall is a magical time in McNairy County.  In addition to the November AAT tour and the beautiful autumn landscape, you will find several other events that will appeal to the entire family. 

The Broomcorn Festival – Sponsored by Hockaday Handmade Brooms, the Broomcorn Festival is an annual event that occurs on the second weekend in September.  Dozens of artists and vendors converge on the Selmer City Park at the south intersection of Hwy 45 and Hwy 64 to demonstrate their skills and peddle their wares.  Live music, great food and a family atmosphere also contribute to the Broomcorn Festival’s reputation as one of the premier folk and heritage festivals in the Midsouth.

Villagefest – Each year, RCV Arts hosts this event on the last weekend in September at Rose Creek Village; 999 Lola Whitten Road in Selmer.  Villagefest is a celebration of village life, culture and art from around the globe…and what a celebration it is!  This festival features diverse forms of artistic and cultural expression including, dance, music, drama, visual arts, storytelling, food and much more. Villagefest is one of the most unique cultural festivals you will find anywhere. You just have to see it to believe it.             

Bethel Springs Quilt Show and Sale – October in McNairy County brings the annual quilt show and sale at historic Bethel Springs, Tennessee.  The Bethel Springs United Pentecostal Church and Bethel Springs Community Center located just minutes apart on old Hwy 45 play hosts to this renowned annual event.  Quilters from around the Midsouth compete for cash prizes with their finest quilts at the church while local quilters and quilting groups demonstrate and sell their quilts at the community center.  Whether you come to vote for your favorite quilt, check out the latest quilting trends or purchase one to take home, everyone will enjoy the Bethel Springs quilt show and sale.            

Other Cultural Events and Attractions – If you plan to be in the area, be sure to check the Arts in McNairy website or blog for ongoing cultural events.   Arts in McNairy, Rose Creek Village Arts and the Adamsville Arts Council offer regular theatrical productions, music concerts, art showings and literary appreciation events.  Additionally live Bluegrass Music can be heard on almost any weekend in the McNairy County.  The Bethel Springs and Adamsville Community Centers have regular Bluegrass shows, typically on alternate weekends.         

History of the Artisan Trail

The Artisan Trail first began to take shape in 2006 when AiM’s Heritage and Culture Committee conducted an open community forum and subsequent cultural assessment survey to identify the cultural strengths of the McNairy County.  The Community, Culture and Commerce Forum, as it was titled, was the first gathering of its kind in West Tennessee.  It brought together local artists and arts organizations, economic development specialists, educators, civic groups, local and state government officials, historic preservationists, tourism professionals, business leaders and interested citizens. 

That group opened a dialogue about how they might work together to preserve and promote the cultural strengths of McNairy County.  A broader coalition was invited to join the conversation through a community assessment survey. 

With the forum as a kick off event and the surveys distributed throughout the county, a community cultural profile swiftly began to emerge. Eighteen months of intensive study and interaction with artists and interested citizens revealed a vibrant and diverse local arts community and a fascinating county history.  Folk and fine artists, musicians and knowledgeable local historians came out of the woodwork. Throughout that time AiM representatives traveled far and wide visiting and consulting with other, similar sized, rural, communities who had successfully engaged in this kind of community cultural development.  The Heritage and Culture Committee began to schedule regular meetings with the artists and artisans to gear their interest in participation.   

While Arts in McNairy was exploring the tourism possibilities of an artisan trail, the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce was beginning to develop a comprehensive plan for improving tourism to the area.  The AAT soon became a key component of the total tourism picture and the rest is history.  March 2007 saw the first AAT tour of studios which attracted state and regional attention.  Visitors from a five state area and counties across middle and west Tennessee attended the spring tour which received extensive media coverage.  Within weeks of the first event, the participating artisans and AiM leadership decided to make the AAT studio tour a biannual event and explore the possibility of making it a permanent part of the cultural landscape in McNairy County.

The Future of the AiM Artisan Trail

The popularity of the AAT has generated great interest in the local arts community.  There are currently about 30 artisans who have agreed to participate at some level in future events.  The Culture and Heritage Committee has also begun to think in terms of expanding the artist pool by opening a dialogue with local financial institutions, economic development entities and area realtors about the possibility of incentive based recruitment.  Incubation programs for artists and arts related businesses are being discussed and a number of participating artists are expanding their businesses or studio space to better accommodate tourist traffic.  

The most exciting recent development has been county government’s interest in the economic development potential of the AAT.  Working with Southwest Tennessee Development District and Arts in McNairy, county leadership has proposed the purchase of a facility in downtown Selmer that would serve as a permanent “trail head” and welcome center for visitors.  Though this is still in the planning stages, the possibilities are endless and the future of the AAT looks very bright.