ABC Grants Application Deadline July 2

By Shannon Ford, Director of Community Arts Development –

July 2, 2018, is the deadline for nonprofit organizations and local governments to submit an Arts Build Communities (ABC) grant application for eligible FY 2019 arts and cultural activities.

ABC Grants provide support for arts and cultural projects that positively impact communities across Tennessee. Funding can be used for arts and cultural projects that: introduce communities to unfamiliar art forms or programs; address social issues; strengthen community engagement; target youth for after-school initiatives; enhance a community’s identity or brand; add value to tourism efforts; or develop artistic or administrative skills. Potential applicants can request up to $2,500 and are encouraged to review the program guidelines. Applicants can access the ABC grant applications on the Tennessee Arts Commission’s online grant system

Across the state, 13 arts councils and development districts serve as designated agencies and administer ABC grants for grant recipients working in their service areas. Each designated agency will conduct ABC grant review panel meetings this summer starting July 23. Applicants are invited and encouraged to attend.

In FY18, there were 170 ABC Grants in 51 counties. In FY 2017, $299,000 in ABC grants leveraged additional investments of $1.328 million and benefitted over 442,000 individuals.