On Saturday, Feb. 1, the Carnegie Center for Arts and History was re-opened to the public after months of renovation.
Before its renovation, it was originally the Andrew Carnegie library, built in 1901, but has since evolved into a museum focusing specifically on West Tennessee musicians and artifacts. Not only has it had a facelift, but the Carnegie Center was also repurposed with a bold new vision. This vision was the brainchild of Aaron Hardin, photographer and former Union professor. Hardin earned his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the Hartford Art School International Limited Residency Program in 2016 and served as an associate professor of visual communication at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. In 2016, he received the Magnum Photo Fine Art Award and has exhibited work across the globe.
Hardin’s dream was to create a center showcasing local up-and-coming artists and providing a means for the community to easily access it.
“I want to bring in art that people would normally have to go to a big city to see, but still art that’s accessible to everyone. My dream is that someone with a PhD in art history can come in and enjoy it, but also someone just off their shift at McDonald’s can walk in and feel inspired and uplifted by it,” Hardin said. “The goal is to show the best art while breaking the idea that museums and galleries are elitist. I’m not interested in elitism. I come from a blue-collar family, and I have cousins who are truck drivers. They understand beauty in ways that many might not because they’re out there on the road, seeing the country in ways I never would.”
Rural communities, especially those in the South, often lack access to great art, music or visual art, which is particularly underrepresented in these areas. Artists seeking to showcase their work often must travel to major cities to do so. Hardin, through the Carnegie Center, hopes to bridge this gap. Where most people would have seen an old building with a static, unchanging exhibit, Hardin saw potential. After pulling archival blueprints and rendering a 3D model, including plans for his own exhibits and ideas to engage the community, he presented his proposal with all suggested changes, a mission statement, peer institutions, potential exhibitions, and a budget estimation to the mayor. He did all this while still teaching at Union University.
“After teaching for almost nine years at Union, I was very comfortable with what that looked like and what the expectations were. But I kind of felt like it was time for a change.” Hardin said. “When else am I going to have the opportunity to create a museum in my town that serves the community, that does the things that I think galleries and museums and cultural institutions should do, but done at a scale that’s sustainable, that’s doable, that’s not a multi-million-dollar enterprise — it’s scaled for Jackson?”
Starting a museum from scratch is difficult. It is hard work and exhausting, often requiring the ability to wear many hats. Hardin was not only the director, curator, social media manager, and staff manager, but he also handled the less glamorous tasks, such as taking out the garbage, cleaning the floors, and managing construction.
“If a doorknob falls off in this 100-year-old building, it’s on me to fix it,” Hardin said.
The Carnegie Center is the perfect space to fulfill Hardin’s dream of bringing art to the masses and uniting the community. He led me through a theater room designed to showcase local filmmakers with an art studio for teaching. Upstairs, there are two current exhibits on rotation and a stage to host concerts and attract musicians from the area. The first exhibit is a tribute to the building’s original purpose as a library, featuring artifacts and letters dating back to its inception. The second exhibit, “Articles of Virtu,” is a series of photographs by Bryan Birks exploring the relationship between people of the American Midwest and their vehicles.
When asked about the transition from being a photographer to curating art, Hardin stated, “It’s not just about showing my own work anymore … It’s about creating a conversation for the viewer to enjoy, one that goes beyond just a cerebral experience — it should make someone feel something. As a photographer, it makes sense because my job has always been to frame something interesting. Now, I’m just framing it on a wall.”
That is what Hardin is all about — helping provide a platform for someone who is not yet well known, someone whose work he believes in. As an artist, he received that opportunity when his work was displayed across the United States, Cuba, the United Kingdom, and even Russia. Now, he aims to do the same for others. The best part is that it is not just about helping an artist; it is about bringing that experience to the community. Visitors can interact with and experience the art while meeting the people behind it, not just something online or from a faceless institution. He knows the people who come through these doors.
Downtown Jackson has been evolving over the past few years, becoming part of an emerging arts district, and the Carnegie Center is at the forefront of that transformation. To build a legitimate arts district, institutions must not only support the arts but also champion them, making them accessible and meaningful to the community. Hardin’s vision is to create a regional hub—a shining pillar of art, history, music, and storytelling—with diverse mediums elevating how people experience art, both downtown and in Jackson as a whole.
As we concluded our conversation, I asked Hardin about his thoughts on his contributions to the city.
“You don’t know how long you’re going to live or even how long you’ll be breathing. I like the idea of leaving a legacy, but I also want to make a difference today. Can I make choices in my life and conduct myself, whether in my job, my career, or at home, in a way that’s beneficial both now and in the future?” Hardin said. “I think it’s important to hold the idea of impact and legacy loosely, not too tightly, because you never know. Someone else will come along with a better idea than mine, and I’ll be gone to whatever’s next. But for now, this is my time, and I want to make the best of it. So, that’s what I’m trying to do.”
The Carnegie Center for Arts and History is located at 305 E. College St. in downtown Jackson and is open Wednesday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
