OZ Arts supports the creation, development and presentation of significant performing and visual art works by leading artists whose contribution influences the advancement of their field. The Ozgener family have been Nashville residents since 1968, and are internationally recognized for innovation in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Having built one of the world’s foremost cigar companies—in spite of the puzzlement of so many in their field that such a company could emerge in Nashville, Tennessee—the Ozgeners brought unprecedented artistry to cigars and, previously, humidors and Meerschaum pipes. Having sold the company, CAO Cigars, the family adapted their former headquarters into a contemporary performance & installation space and event center. In 2013, the Ozgener family established the non-profit cultural institution, OZ, as a gift back to the city and country that have been so hospitable to them as first-generation, Turkish-Armenian immigrants.
