Arts for All

Proposed arts projects must involve one or more of these recognized art forms: visual, craft, media, design, music, theater, dance, folk or literary arts.

If eligible, Arts for All applicants may also submit applications in the Arts Education, Arts Project Support, Operating Support, and the Arts Build Communities categories.

Note: Arts Education-based projects, especially those primarily serving youth, must be submitted in one of the Arts Education grant categories.

Note: Applicants seeking to serve populations living in designated rural counties are directed to apply through the Rural Arts Project Support grant category.

In the application, organizations must make a compelling reason as to why populations have not been able to participate as readily in acts activities or programs without excluding any individual. Programs in this category must be broadly open to the public.

The following are examples of activities and expenditures that are consistent with the funding philosophy for AA:

• Contracted artists fees for professional artists
• Master classes, workshops, programs, projects or activities involving artists
• Specific aspects of workshops, festivals and conferences
• Public performances, productions and exhibitions produced by the applicant
• Exhibitions of art by professional artists
• Promotion, publicity and newsletters
• Materials and supplies needed for participants in the proposed art project
• Administrative and artistic staff support (except for applicants who apply for or receive operating support from the TN Art Commission in other grant categories).
• Technical/production support

The following activities and expenditures are inappropriate for funding through this program:

• Payments to members of the organization’s board
• Insurance Premiums
• Endowments
• Honoraria or subsidies
• Office space rental
• Janitorial service and general physical plant maintenance
• Food and hospitality
• Permanent equipment purchases
• Scholarships and subsidized programming
• Payment of accumulated deficits
• Capital improvements
• New periodicals, books, etc. (such as vanity publications)
• Out-of-state travel
• Scholarly arts-related research and writing
• Cash awards
• Purchase of local public art
• Legal fees
• Planned fundraising events
• Events to which the general public is not invited
• Consultant fees for technical assistance

A project may start no earlier than July 1, 2026, and must end no later than June 15, 2027.

Funds awarded to a single organization in this category range in amounts up to $18,000 with a 1:1 match for arts organizations & for non-arts organizations.

Funding will depend upon an organization’s rating in the review process (see Evaluation Criteria below) and upon the total amount of funds available to the Tennessee Arts Commission for grant allocation. This grant category is competitive.

Funds requested may be listed in up to 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.

The organization must be able to match the requested grant amount in cash, dollar-for-dollar. Applicant Cash Participation may be listed in multiple expense categories. The budget section requires that you include your entire projected budget rather than just an exact match to the grant request. Please itemize all expenses and income sources that support the proposed project under the appropriate categories. Note: these figures can be projected figures assuming the project is approved. See Budget Line Item Definitions for guidance on how to fill out the application budget.

An organization may submit only one AA application for any given fiscal year. AA applicants may also apply in the following grant categories for distinct activities (grant eligibility requirements apply):

• Arts Project Support
• Rural Arts Project Support
• Arts Build Communities
• Partnership Support
• Major Cultural Institution
• Small Urban Partnership Support/Small Rural Partnership Support
• Creative Placemaking/Rural Arts Facilities Fund
• Arts Education categories (if eligible)*

*K-12 public and private schools are not eligible under this category. Arts education-based projects, especially those primarily serving youth, must be submitted in one of the Arts Education grant categories. 

Organizations eligible to apply in more than one grant category in a single fiscal year must submit applications for unrelated, separate and distinct projects. Organizations may not apply in different categories to support different activities of the same project or event.

1) Full application due by Jan 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm, CST
2) Staff and panel review applications between Jan – April 2026
3) Organizations receive notice of award/denial around July 2026
4) Project Grant Implementation between July 1, 2026 – June 15, 2027
5) Grantees may request first 40% of payment by submitting the Request for Funds Form in the online grants system after award notification and without submitting expenditures.
6) Final Report Due 30 days after program ends or by June 15, 2027, whichever comes first.

*This timeline is subject to change based on federal and state budget approval processes.

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.

An organization is eligible to apply for funding if the organization is legally chartered in Tennessee, has an active IRS 501(c)3 status, can provide a current copy of the organization’s bylaws, and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Failure to provide all nonprofit status documentation will result in the application being disqualified.

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

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.

Additional eligibility requirements and funding restrictions may apply. Please see Legal Requirements for further details.

Debarment and Suspension. Grantees are required to sign contracts certifying to the best of its knowledge and belief, that it, its current and future principals, its current and future subcontractors and their principals are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any federal or state department or agency.

Commission staff will contact all applicants and inform them of the advisory panel review schedule. Advisory panels reviewing grant applications for this program use the following NEW evaluation criteria citing evidence that:

1. proposed project/activities/goals are clearly outlined and advance organization’s mission or purpose (10 points)
2. who the project will serve is clearly identified, and organization understands and is responsive to the interests and needs of the community served, including providing programming that supports arts participation for all (10 points)
3. proposed project demonstrates artistic, cultural, and/or educational value to the community served (10 points)
4. details personnel with relevant experience to implement the project (10 points)
5. planning procedures are comprehensive and communicated, and application is well planned, addresses all questions, and is correct and complete in all information provided (10 points)
6. organization understands and demonstrates the value of public and private partnerships (5 points)
7. marketing and publicity efforts are well planned to increase awareness of and participation in the project (5 points)
8. organization understands principles of documentation and evaluation, and results are used to guide future planning and programming (10 points)
9. organization demonstrates financial stability, a broad base of financial support, and clear projected budget expenses and income (10 points)
10. evidence in the budget of appropriate support for individuals contributing to the project, including compensation and/or benefits to artists when applicable (10 points)
11. organization understands and acts as an advocate for the public value of the arts in the community (10 points)

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.

All Commission sponsored programs, services and facilities are fully accessible to all Tennessee artists and citizens. No person of on the grounds of disability, age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin or any other classification protected by Federal, Tennessee State constitutional, or statutory law shall be given preferential treatment or excluded from participation in services, programs and 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 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.

1. First time applicants must “register” (see step #2) and complete an “organization” and “people” profile (steps #3-5) before applying for a grant. Returning applicants are advised to check the “organization” & “people” profile, and if correct proceed to apply for a grant (step #6).
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. Then begin an application for a AA grant.
4. Use the “Organizations” tab on the left-hand menu to ensure that the profile is complete and accurate. This information is as important as the application itself. Incomplete or erroneous data will impact your chances for funding. To edit the profile, click the “Edit” button at the top of the Organization screen.
5. Use the “People” tab on the left-hand menu to ensure that your “People” profile is complete and accurate. This information will also be used in the review of the application. To edit the profile, 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, scroll down the page to Apply for Annul Grant, open an application and choose the AA grant application.
7. Complete all of the application fields.
8. Create and upload required attachments.
9. 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—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 prepopulate in the organization name field on any newly opened application. To change to another associated organization, simply delete the prepopulated name and type in the correct organization.

You will be prompted to create and upload the following documents in the Required 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. List of Board of Directors. Only nonprofit organizations with 501(c)3 status will be prompted to upload this document. The board list (at the time of application) must include the following:
   • • Full Name
     • Email address
     • Number of years on the board
     • Length of term(s)
     • NEW: Identify Executive Board Members (i.e., President, Vice President, Secretary and 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.

3. Corporation Annual Report: Only nonprofit organizations with 501(c)3 status will be prompted to upload this document (as required to be filed annually with the Secretary of State’s Office). In lieu of the report, 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. Entities of government do NOT submit.

You will NOT be prompted to upload these documents in the Organization Profile, but these documents may be required based on your applicant type.

Recent Bylaws. All Nonprofit, 501(c)3 applicants must upload the most recent copy of their bylaws to their online Organization Profile during registration, prior to submitting their application.

You will NOT be prompted to upload these documents in the system, but these documents may be required based on your applicant type.

Optional Materials. These include proof of advocacy, project examples, artistic samples. These documents can be uploaded in the “Documents” section below the “Required Documents” section of your application. 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.