Arts Funding and Programming for Rural Tennessee Hospitals

By Kim Johnson, Director of Arts & Health –

The Tennessee Arts Commission was awarded a $75,000 national grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support arts programming for families and communities in rural hospitals throughout the state.

Matched with $50,000 in state funds for an overall total of $125,000 in funding, this initiative will allow nonprofit hospitals, arts and non-arts organizations in rural counties with grants funding up to $25,000 per applicant to support a variety of arts-based programming in hospitals, including music concerts, plays, painting classes, lobby art exhibits and the creation of healing spaces.

“This program is designed to better support health and wellness outcomes by using arts-based activities involving patients, families and staff in rural Tennessee hospitals,” said Anne Pope, executive director of the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Letters of intent are due by October 31, 2025 and for more information about how to apply or questions, visit –https://tnartscommission.org/grants/tennessee-arts-rural-health-initiative/  – or contact Commission staff at kim.johnson@tn.gov, 615-532-9797.