In the heart of Midtown Memphis, a story of artistic vision has been unfolding over the last 11 years. After years of inspiring and innovative work that has altered the face of creativity
in Memphis, co-founder and Executive Director of Arrow Creative, Abby Phillips, will be passing the torch on to new leadership. Since its inception in 2012, Phillips and her co-founder, Dorothy Collier, embarked on a mission to create a haven for artists; a place where they could not only sell their work, but could receive top notch entrepreneurial enrichment and a sense of community. This dream culminated in 2021 when Arrow Creative found its forever home, a 23,000 square foot gem in Midtown.
As this chapter reaches its end, Phillips looks back on the remarkable journey. “I’m incredibly proud of the work that has gone into this organization. [Co-founder] Dorothy Collier
and I set out to build a space for artists to work and sell in one location, for art enthusiasts to find a place to create, and for mini makers to learn from working artists. It's been a privilege to work with such inventive talent, both in our artists, as well as our staff. With the organization in a stable place and experiencing continued growth, it is now time for new leadership to step in and help Arrow grow to its fullest potential.”
While Phillips is stepping away from leadership at Arrow, her vibrant legacy carries on. Over the years she has touched the lives of over 300 artists and designers through her visionary initiatives. As the Arrow community reflects on Abby’s impact, they also look forward with excitement at the new opportunities on the horizon under new Executive Director Elizabeth Lemmonds.
Lemmonds has been working her way toward this position for over a decade at powerhouse organizations such as Epicenter, New Memphis and Start Co. She originally got to know Arrow Creative as a mentor through Epicenter. Phillips says of Arrow’s new Executive Director, “Elizabeth was top on my list to step into the Arrow ED position and take the reins. Her knowledge of entrepreneurship, specifically with artists and makers, is a perfect fit. She has worked with some of the most inspiring organizations in Memphis and has the gusto to grow Arrow to its full potential.”
During this time of transition and celebration, Arrow invites everyone to visit their inspiring space this month and in December for their highly anticipated 4th annual Holiday Bazaar and get to know their amazing staff, artists and community that continue to help Arrow reach new heights.
“I've been a huge fan of Arrow's mission since they launched. I'm still pinching myself to have the privilege of leading their next exciting phase of programming, growth and impact!" - Elizabeth Lemmonds, Executive Director