In This Place Returns: This is Memphis
This spring, Memphis gathers again.
Historic Clayborn Temple and The Big We announce the return of In This Place, the annual citywide season of culture, community, and capital that brings Memphians together through music, storytelling, learning, and shared cultural experience.
Rooted in the spirit of the 1968 Sanitation Workers Strike that gave birth to the iconic “I AM A MAN” message, the season runs from February 12 through April 16, following the historic timeline of that defining moment in Memphis history. Across nine weeks, In This Place invites residents to connect, deepen their understanding of the city, and take part in shaping Memphis’ future.
The Big We is a social enterprise building resources and infrastructure for the cultural economy. It does this through creative placemaking, social entrepreneurship, and storytelling. In This Place is where those strategies come to life in public.
A Season of Gatherings Across the City
In This Place moves across Memphis, partnering with cultural institutions and community spaces to host experiences that reflect the full spectrum of the city’s creative energy.
Community Sing | February 15 @ Crosstown Concourse
A joyful gathering where Memphians lift their voices as one alongside local church, community, and school choirs. Led by Jason Clark of the Tennessee Mass Choir, the event centers on unity, connection, and shared sound.Culture Shift 101 | February 18 @ National Civil Rights Museum
A hands-on workshop led by cultural strategist Anasa Troutman with P. Valley actor Bertram Williams Jr., exploring how storytelling shapes culture, behavior, and community change.Young, Gifted, & Memphis | March 16 @ Stax Museum
A youth-centered showcase spotlighting young Memphis creatives across disciplines. Featuring guests from GrammyU and other arts organizations, this gathering connects emerging talent with tools and resources to build sustainable creative futures.Story-Circle: Memphis Music Edition | March 20 @ Stax Museum
Hosted by WYXR’s Jared Boyd, this storytelling and listening experience brings together artists, culture keepers, and music lovers to share the stories behind the sounds that define Memphis.Let’s Get It… Together | March 24 @ Crosstown Concourse
A conversation focused on community ownership and cooperatives, featuring local co-op leaders, funders, and an introduction to the COIN program.State of the Arts: Mayoral Forum | April 6 @ Crosstown Theater
A citywide gathering highlighting the state of arts and culture in Memphis, sharing research and community insight, and inviting mayoral candidates to respond directly to the priorities of the creative community.Building Beloved | April 11
An interfaith gathering that brings together spiritual and community leaders across traditions to explore healing, connection, and civic care.This Is Memphis: A Documentary Experience | April 16 @ Crosstown Concourse
The season concludes with a documentary created by the Artist in Residence, capturing Memphis through the eyes of an artist experiencing the city in real time. The film highlights the richness, beauty, and everyday life that shape Memphis’ cultural future.
A Living Anchor
Historic Clayborn Temple remains one of only two National Treasures in Tennessee and continues to serve as a living civic and cultural anchor for the city. Following the April 2025 arson that severely damaged the historic structure, programming like In This Place keeps the temple’s spirit active while advancing the next phase of rebuilding and reimagining for Memphis’ future.
The Big We CEO, Anasa Troutman, announcing In This Place: This is Memphis
In This Place moves people from attendance into relationship, participation, and long-term investment in the city’s cultural and economic life. It creates space for joy, learning, civic engagement, and collective imagination. Memphis has always shaped culture. This season invites the city to gather, reflect, and build what comes next.
The full schedule and event details are available now.