Arts Education Project Support

After reading the guidelines in full, first-time applicants should contact Chris Sweatt at chris.sweatt@tn.gov or 615-253-8914 prior to submitting an application to verify eligibility. 

Applicants must be one of the following: 

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a primary mission of arts and/or education 
• Local government agencies 
• Public K–12 schools or districts 
• Libraries  
• Institutions of higher learning

National or regional 501(c)3 organizations, chartered in Tennessee, and serving as an umbrella organization applying for funds for another group are restricted to one application only per fiscal year.

Arts organizations that receive revenue directly from a “New Specialty Earmarked Plate” under T.C.A 55-4-301 (a)(1) are ineligible for Commission grant funding.

Unique Entity ID (UEI): All applicants are required to have a Unique Entity ID. Information and application instructions can be found here.

Affirmative Duty to Report Major Organizational Change: Any grantee shall promptly notify the state in writing of any significant changes in the organization’s structure, leadership or financial circumstances that could affect services provided under the grant contract resulting from this application. See other Grantee Reporting Requirements.

All Commission-sponsored programs, services, and facilities are fully accessible to all Tennessee artists and citizens. No person, on the basis of disability, age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other classification protected by Federal or Tennessee law, shall be given preferential treatment or excluded from participation in services, programs, or employment provided by the Commission and its contracting agencies. If an individual believes they have been subjected to discrimination, they may file a complaint with the Civil Rights Enforcement Division of the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office at the Online Complaint Portal; phone: 615.741.5825; email: CRED@ag.tn.gov; or by mail to P.O. Box 20207, Nashville, TN 37202.

All Commission sponsored programs, services and facilities should be fully accessible and compliant with American with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunication. The ADA extends the requirements under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, to all activities of state and local governments and places of public accommodations operated by private entities, including places of public display. Resources to assist in meeting these requirements can be found on the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Accessibility Resources page.

All projects must: 

• Provide hands-on, experiential arts learning 
• Involve a professional artist/instructor as primary instructor 
• Include measurable goals and objectives  

In addition to the requirements above, all projects must align with at least one of the following goals:  

• Building workforce-relevant skills in creative fields to promote college & career readiness 
• Connecting Tennessee artists and arts organizations with schools to enhance standards-based arts education  
• Enhancing instructional quality and fostering teacher retention through arts-focused professional development  
• Integrating arts into other areas of learning, including STEM, literacy, and social studies  
• Promoting Tennessee’s cultural and artistic heritage  
• Providing arts learning opportunities for youth who have limited participation in out-of-school activities or in-school arts education  
• Supporting health and well-being, including for seniors, veterans, & people with disabilities through arts learning  

For K-12 public school or school district applicants, projects must: 

• Focus on either:  
  • Providing professional development for arts educators, or 
  • Out-of-school time projects serving students with limited participation in arts education opportunities  
• Include a curriculum-based approach aligned to state and local education standards

The following funding tiers are designed to support a range of arts education projects. Each tier outlines the maximum funding available, expected duration, and the level of participant engagement. 

Grant applications must focus on a single, clearly defined project rather than describing multiple initiatives or comprehensive organizational programming.  

Tier 1: Series of Single-Session Projects 

• Maximum Funding Request: $12,000 
• Duration: Multiple one-day events over time 
• Description: A series of one-time or drop-in workshops offered throughout the year. While the program may be ongoing, individual participants typically engage only once or sporadically.  

Examples: 

• Monthly community art nights 
• A rotating series of one-day workshops in different schools 
• Quarterly open professional development sessions  

Tier 2: Multi-day or Multi-week Intensive Projects 

• Maximum Funding Request: $18,000 
• Duration: Multi-day or multi-week intensive projects 
• Description: Projects that offer multiple sessions to the same group of participants over multiple days or weeks, allowing for skill-building and deeper engagement. 

 Examples: 

• A weeklong summer arts camp 
• A multi-day professional development intensive   
• A multi-week after-school program 

Tier 3: Long-Term / Year-Round Projects 

• Maximum Funding Request: $25,000 
• Duration: Full school year or calendar year 
• Description: Sustained programs that provide consistent, structured arts education over an extended period for the same group of participants. 

Examples: 

• A year-long arts after-school program 
• A community arts hub offering weekly classes for the same cohort 
• An ongoing creative career pathway program   

Organizations seeking general operating support are encouraged to explore one of the Commission’s operating support grant opportunities. Short-term projects that fall outside of these tiers—such as one-day workshops or single events—should be submitted through the Commission’s rolling grants. Please visit the grant opportunities page for current availability and guidelines.

Funds requested may be listed under four different expense categories in the Commission Funds Requested column in the budget. However, applicants are encouraged to request to spend the grant funding in as few expense categories as possible. Eligible expenses include: 

• Contracted professional fees for planning, implementation, or evaluation directly related to the project  
• Fees or stipends for permanent staff corresponding to time spent in direct instructional roles within the project
• In-state travel and/or lodging for permanent education staff or contracted personnel  
• In-state transportation for students to and from the site location for participation in the arts learning project, such as bus rentals, driver fees, fuel, or other non-capital transportation costs necessary to ensure participation in the project. 
• Space rental (for locations not currently being rented by the applicant organization) 
• Marketing  
• Consumable supplies related to the project 

The Tennessee Arts Commission reserves the right to deny any application if the proposed activity is outside of the scope or spirit of the agency’s mission, purpose, or this grant program.

The following are examples of activities and expenditures not allowable for AE-PS funds. For further information see Funding Restrictions on Legal Requirements.  

• Projects in which the artist/instructor is to serve as the arts teacher in the absence of any ongoing arts education programs 
• Capital purchases for permanent or non-consumable materials or equipment purchases (such as musical instruments, equipment, cameras, easels, etc.) 
• Incentives for participation including stipends and cash awards 
• Projects designed primarily as performances, demonstrations, or exhibits with only minimal impact and limited hands-on participation 
• Field trips (all field trips should apply through the Student Ticket Subsidy program) 
• Projects in which students are presenting, performing, and/or exhibiting in competitions or tours  
• Out-of-state travel for participants  
• Individual private lesson instruction 
• Substitute teachers or release time 
• Payment for apprentices or interns 
• Planned fundraising activities or grant writing 
• After-school clubs without structured arts learning 
• Scholarships or competitions 
• Food 
• Payments to members of the organization’s board 
• Guest artists to exhibit, direct, choreograph or conduct productions or performances who are not engaged in active instruction with participants. 
• Non-classical art forms including but not limited to culinary arts, martial arts, healing arts, exercise programs, acrobatics or gymnastics (exceptions may exist – contact the Commission for details) 
• Payments to an employee or official of the State of Tennessee (exceptions may exist – contact the Commission for details)

Advisory panels reviewing grant applications for this program use the following evaluation criteria citing evidence that the:

1.) Project Description and Goals

Briefly summarize the project. What is the purpose of the project? When, where, and for how long will the project take place? Who will participate? What are the goals?  

• project is clearly defined, purposeful, and focused on arts learning (10 points) 
• goals are appropriate and align with the organization’s mission (10 points) 

2.) Community Engagement 

How is the project responsive to the needs and interests of the community it serves? How is the community involved in the planning and implementation of the project? What partnerships exist to support the success of the project?  

• organization understands and is responsive to community needs and interests (10 points)  
• organization understands and demonstrates the value of community involvement and acts as an advocate for the public value of the arts in the community (10 points) 

3.) Artistic & Educational Quality 

What will participants learn, how will instruction take place, and what activities will occur? Who will serve as the artistic/instructional staff for the project, and what are their qualifications?  

• proposed project demonstrates artistic and educational value (10 points) 
• artistic/instructional staff are highly qualified and well-suited for the scope of the project (10 points) 

4.) Evaluation & Impact 

What are the intended outcomes? What methods will be used to evaluate them? How will evaluation data be used to inform future decision-making, or, for returning applicants, how has evaluation data from previous projects been used to inform current decision-making? 

• outcomes are specific, measurable, and aligned with evaluation methods (10 points)  
• evaluation data is used to guide future planning (10 points) 

5.) Budget & Overall Planning  

• the budget is feasible and supports artist compensation (10 points) 
• the application is complete, clear, and well-planned (10 points)

You will be prompted to create and upload the following documents in the Documents section of your Annual Application in the Online Grants System.

1. Proof of Arts Advocacy. Advocacy is educating and communicating to the public, including public officials, the importance of the arts and how public support of the arts can and has impacted your community. Examples of arts advocacy proof may include membership in Tennesseans for the Arts, copies of recent letters or emails (within the last 12 months) to state legislators and other state/local elected officials, photos of state/local elected officials at the applicant’s arts events, newspaper articles or social media posts that create awareness about public support for the arts through the organization’s activities (news articles that primarily market events are not acceptable), promoting the Specialty License Plate program and other pertinent print materials. Proof of advocacy must be demonstrated by the applicant organization. Applicants may not submit advocacy efforts conducted by contracted personnel. Multiple examples of arts advocacy will strengthen the application, but only one example that proves advocacy is required. 
2. Schedule: Outline the schedule of activities with as much detail as possible at the time of application, such as the daily and/or weekly schedule for both participants and staff.
3. Support Material(s): Applicants must upload one or more support materials that showcase the project. Support materials can include artist resumes, reviews, clippings, photos, brochures, artistic samples, monitoring plans, lesson plans, past evaluations, letters of support, and links to videos directly related to the application proposal. Accepted file types include .pdf, .jpg, or .png. For video and audio samples, provide links to projects in the section labeled “Optional Material Link(s)” below the “Documents” section. Please ensure that all external links will be active during the review period.  NOTE: Please consolidate support materials into a single document where possible.
4. Board of Directors List: Only nonprofit organizations with 501(c)3 status upload this document. Entities of government and PK-12 public schools do not provide a Board of Directors List. Note that Commission staff may request that grantees provide additional information about the board including but not limited to contact information and occupation during the grant period. The board list (at the time of application) must include only the following: 

• • Full Name 
  • Email address 
  • Number of years on the board 
  • Length of term(s) 
  • NEW: Identify Executive Board Members (e.g. President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer) 

NOTE: Double check your board list to make sure it has all 5 pieces of the required information. If your organization’s bylaws do not require term limits, include a statement on the Board List indicating this. Legal requirements state that Commission funds granted to an organization may not be used as a payment of any kind, for any purpose, to members of an organization’s board. 

5. Corporation Annual Report: Only nonprofit organizations with 501(c)3 status upload this document. In lieu of the report required to be filed annually with the Secretary of State’s Office, you may also submit a copy of the email verification issued by the Secretary of State’s Office or a copy of the online verification sheet maintained by the Secretary of State’s Office found here. 

If applicable, create and upload the following document in the Organization profile in your portal of the Online Grants System. 

1. Bylaws: Only nonprofit organizations with 501(c)3 status upload this document. Upload the most recent copy of the Bylaws of the organization in the Organization profile.

1. For new applicants, contact Director of Arts Education Chris Sweatt at chris.sweatt@tn.gov or 615-253-8914 to discuss eligibility.
2. Register to use the Online Grants System as an individual or on behalf of an organization to receive a username and password. Individuals who represent organizations should get their own, individual accounts and not share or “pass down” the username or password among staff. You are strongly advised to register well in advance to the application deadline. Anyone registering close to the deadline date can expect delays in the processing of their grant application.
3. Log in to the Online Grants System to complete your “Organization” profile and begin an application.
4. Use the “Organizations” link to the left in your Online Grants System portal to ensure that the record is complete and accurate. This information is as important as the application itself, and incomplete or erroneous data will impact your chances for funding. To open the record for completing/editing, click the “Edit” button at the top of the Organization screen.
5. Use the “People” link to ensure that the record is complete and accurate. This information will also be used in the review of the application. To open the record for editing, click the edit button at the top of the screen.
6. When both your “Organization” and “People” profiles are complete and accurate, select the “Apply for Grants” tab again and click the “Apply for an Annual Grant” link listed on the page.
7. Complete all of the application fields and create and upload required attachments. 
8. Submit by Tuesday, January 20, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. (CST). 

NOTE: The forms in this portal do not auto-save. Always click the “Save” button before navigating away from the form you are editing to save your work. 

Beware that clicking the back navigation button on your web browser will exit you from the system and you will lose your work. 

Association or Connection to Multiple Organizations: If you are associated with more than one organization, the organization that you were originally associated with will pre-populate in the organization name field on any newly opened application. To change to another associated organization, simply delete the pre-populated name and type in the correct organization.