Samuel Watkins

Over a century ago, Samuel Watkins - a former bond servant and self-educated Nashville businessman - envisioned an accessible school that would strengthen the city with free lectures and classes. His hopes were finally realized with the construction of Watkins Institute on his property in 1885.

From these humble beginnings evolved one of the finest community-oriented art education facilities in the Mid-South, emerging today as Watkins College of Art&Design and the Watkins Film School.