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Zoom In: Q&A with Steve Wilson

What makes art and the public sharing of art such a transformational force?
We founded 21c Museum Hotels to create a place that invokes conversation, ignites curiosity and introduces collaboration in an unconventional way. Some pieces whimsical, others confrontational, art that provokes has always captivated us.

21c’s hybrid model isn’t an art hotel, but a fully operational contemporary art museum. Alice Gray Stites, our chief curator, creates site-specific installations, rotating curated exhibitions and cultural programming that surprise and delight, but that also seek to push the envelope in exploring the width and breadth of the human experience, both lived and imagined.

As you celebrate the brand’s 11th anniversary this year, in what ways have you seen your vision for 21c fulfilled?
We never imagined creating more than one 21c. This spring, we opened our seventh, in Nashville. Now offering more than 75,000 square feet of total exhibition space, 21c Museum is one of the nation’s largest contemporary art museums. Discovering the hunger for more arts experiences throughout the U.S., we’re constantly vetting new cities and spaces, including expanding to Kansas City, Mo., next year, and developing plans for Indianapolis and Miami.

What role does art play within the overall hospitality environment and guest experience?
Our meeting rooms are gallery spaces, each housing part of the 21c Collection displayed at a given property. These spaces are also used for artist lectures and group functions.

Whether exploring exhibitions, dining in our restaurants, or attending a meeting or event, guests are immersed in all aspects of the experience. We seek to feed their curiosity and spark the spirit of discovery, extending the impact of the meeting far beyond our four walls. With art experiences in unexpected places and around every corner, we give attendees the opportunity to break away from business and blur the lines with a leisure experience that inspires and provokes thought.