Made for Artists. Built for Community.
What is FlaxCo?
FlaxCo is dedicated to serving and empowering young creatives in the Franklin, Tennessee area.
We provide the community, resources, space and mentorship necessary to hone their craft, explore their creativity, grow in their artistic endeavors, and develop into healthy, mature individuals.
Our on-site Artist in Residence program connects aspiring artists with skilled and experienced professionals across various genres and mediums, offering practical and creative guidance within a safe, dynamic community.
We also invite artists and industry professionals to work with our community of creatives on a more ad-hoc basis as Itinerant Mentors and Guest Artists, which are different roles.
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Mission
We exist to serve young creatives by curating a dynamic and safe community that encourages exploration and growth through collaboration and mentoring.
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Vision
Through our dedication to the next generation of young artists, dreams will be nurtured, skills and craft sharpened, great art created, and the unique impact only produced through creative people will be unleashed as a blessing to our community.
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Method
- Serve as a Creative Incubator
- Provide a Stable, Safe Community
- Host a Performance Venue, Gallery and Art Playground
- Excel in Dynamic Collaboration
- Maintain a Broad Spectrum Mentoring Program
Core Values
1. Dignity
Every person is inherently worthy.
We treat people with respect, listen deeply, and create spaces where individuals are seen and taken seriously.
2. Formation
Character is cultivated.
We believe that who we are becoming matters as much as what we create: formation precedes platform. We value inner formation through vulnerability, accountability, and humble reflection. A securely forming life is marked by wisdom, courage, and integrity.
3. Craft
What we create should be meaningful and well-formed.
We pursue excellence, originality, and work that contributes something real—not just more noise and clutter.
4. Practice
Growth happens through doing.
We show up, take risks, and learn through real experience rather than waiting for perfection. We are disciplined learners.
5. Belonging
People flourish in community.
We create places where outsiders become insiders. Through encouragement, honesty, and shared growth, we cultivate communities where no one develops alone.
6. Stewardship
What has been entrusted to us is meant to be cultivated.
We develop our gifts, contribute to our community, and create opportunities for others. We seek to leave people, places, and creative communities stronger than we found them.
The Community
The Artist
16-25
Has raw talent and vision, but not the refined tools or industry knowledge
Operates in a tight cohort with no genuine community or place to “be”
Has a desire to make a difference in the world through their creative expression
The Mentor
The older version of the artist – 40+ who has walked the road and has a few things to share
Someone who sees the potential in others and can give guidance towards opportunities
The artist that works alone a lot of the time and wants to be in community themselves
The artist that has had great ‘success’, but is asking the “what was all this for? How can I give-back and help others?”
The Sponsor
Someone that had this support as a young person and knows the tangible benefits
The person that wishes they had a FlaxCo community as a young person, and wants the opportunity to make amends with their younger self
Those who recognize the unique value, the “right now” need, and the opportunity to lift and amplify young creatives to impact the arts and culture
We exist to serve young creatives
The Founders
Chris Meidl
Chris is an enterprise strategist and transformative leader. He thrives on launching and redesigning organizations to support growth, and helping leaders navigate complex transitions—whether it’s evolving the business model, driving cultural integration, or preparing the enterprise for its next phase.
He is a passionate mentor and champion for the underserved and underrepresented, playing significant roles in advocating for the abused, those suffering from mental and behavioral health challenges, and people living in underresourced communities. His career roles have included worship leader, non-profit and entertainment industry founder and executive, vice president of a public policy office in Washington, DC, and transactional attorney.
“A young creative’s path is shaped in key moments. We exist to meet them there with our toolbox and battle scars in hand.” - Chris
John Boyd
As Creative Director John has had the opportunity to create unique experiences for his clients and employees. He emphasizes the marriage between aesthetics and performance, and his unique creative vision for brands, events, physical spaces, and video content pushes boundaries and industry standards to surprise, enthrall, and challenge audiences and clients alike.
A native of New Zealand, John uses 25 years of music and design industry experience, along with his ‘out-of-the-box-Kiwi-thinking’ to take common ideas and products and use them in an uncommon way. His focus is on making sure there is a human to human connection, to create what matters.
“We are building a community, not a company.” - John
Will McGinniss
As a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning band Audio Adrenaline, Will experienced firsthand how music and artistic community can shape a life and launch lasting impact. He often says, “music saved my life,” and that conviction fuels his passion to help create a safe, inspiring space for young artists to grow. Beyond the stage, Will brings a strong background in entrepreneurship and leadership, including mission-driven work through Hands & Feet Project and creative ventures that have supported artists and artisans internationally. Through his board service and as a founding member, Will is pouring his experience and heart into FlaxCo and The Odeon to ensure young creatives in Franklin have a place to be seen, supported, and inspired.
“I just love seeing good happen.” - Will
The Backstory
So, how did John, Will, and I find ourselves doing this FlaxCo thing right here and right now?
Good question. And thanks for asking.
John and I have been dreaming about a creative co-op in Franklin for nearly 20 years. We’ve carried a vision to build a space for creatives, especially those on the fringe. The ones with talent, spark, and story, but no real home base. No place to belong. No formative mentoring.
We imagined a community where people could be seen, sharpened, nurtured and sent. Not just connected or coached, but genuinely celebrated in their calling and creative courage.
Then a key puzzle piece showed up in the form of Will McGinniss.
My wife, Holly, and I have been fans of Hands & Feet Project for more than 15 years. Through that connection, I met Will for coffee at the Good Cup in Grassland. Within minutes, we were sharing real stories, wounds, loss, the kind of honesty most people don’t lead with. It was clear we were aligned. John already knew Will through the Franklin creative community, and when we sat down together, it clicked immediately. Same heart. Same burden. Same vision.
As we talked with artists, musicians, writers, filmmakers, and creative entrepreneurs, one thing became clear. Franklin is full of talented people, but many of them have nowhere to go. Creative spaces are often too expensive, difficult to access, or simply not built with emerging artists in mind. Young creatives are rarely prioritized. Many are trying to find their way without mentors, community, or a place where they can grow alongside others.
We believed there could be something different.
FlaxCo was born from a long-held dream, shared experience, and a desire to create the kind of place we wish young creatives had access to and ownership in. A place where artists, creative entrepreneurs, mentors, and storytellers can gather, create, learn and belong.
FlaxCo is built to be a place to fan flames of what is already there.
A place where people are encouraged, formed, sharpened and launched.
- Chris
Ready To Lean In?
Promote
Simply stated, if you like what you see, please tell others about FlaxCo. It could make a huge difference in someone’s life.
Mentor
Motivated, talented, high integrity and servant mentors are the greatest gift to us and our young creative. If that’s you (and don’t be too modest), we invite you to contact us about our Artist in Residence Program and Itinerant Mentor role. Lots of cool opportunities to give back!
Donate
We of course would welcome your financial support and the opportunity to have you come alongside us in that way. Truly. We would also be blessed to have pros step up and help us build out our spaces to provide the best equipment and tools that will allow us to deliver a premium quality experience to the FlaxCo community. That could take a lot of forms, so hit us up for more information.