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Find similar grantsSpecial Opportunities: Arts Forward is sponsored by Tennessee Arts Commission. Non-matching Special Opportunities: Arts Forward grants (up to $5,000) are available to Tennessee arts organizations and local governments to strengthen operations and expand community engagement in the arts.
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Special Opportunities - Arts Forward - Tennessee Arts Commission Special Opportunities – Arts Forward Support for arts organizations and local governments to strengthen operations and expand community engagement in the arts. Non-matching Special Opportunities: Arts Forward grants (up to $5,000) are available to Tennessee arts organizations and local governments.
Designed for flexibility, this program supports a wide range of activities—including technical assistance, small equipment or supply purchases, and arts events in Tennessee communities. Applicants are asked to identify appropriate, realistic strategies for strengthening their organizations or addressing challenges and opportunities, and to demonstrate readiness to carry out the proposed activity.
Proposed projects should enhance the overall artistic, educational, and/or cultural value of the organization to its community and help maintain a strong infrastructure for the arts statewide. The Tennessee Arts Commission encourages applications from any eligible organization from across the state, with special encouragement for those located in distressed, at-risk, and rural counties.
Nonprofit arts organizations legally chartered in Tennessee, with headquarters and home season (or equivalent activity) in Tennessee, and holding IRS 501(c)(3) status. Nonprofit non-arts organizations legally chartered in Tennessee, with headquarters in Tennessee, and holding IRS 501(c)(3) status. Entities of local or state government.
Public K–12 schools are not eligible to apply for this grant program. Applicants are eligible for one Special Opportunities: Arts Forward grant per fiscal year. Organizations that receive revenue directly from a “New Specialty Earmarked Plate” under T.
C. A. 55-4-301(a)(1) are not eligible.
Proposed applications must involve one or more Commission-recognized art forms, including: visual arts, craft, media, design, music, theater, dance, folk and ethnic, or literary arts. Please see Legal Requirements for further details.
Debarment and Suspension: Grantees are required to sign contracts certifying, to the best of their knowledge and belief, that they and their principals/subcontractors are not debarred, suspended, or otherwise ineligible for federal or state funds.
Examples of Eligible Activities Organizations may apply for activities that include (but are not limited to): Short-term consultations or technical assistance (planning, board/staff development, marketing, accessibility training, financial management, technology, etc.) Engaging professional touring artists or groups for public performances and educational activities in Tennessee communities.
Arts participation projects such as community workshops, classes, or collaborative art-making activities that engage participants directly in the creative process. Small equipment or supply purchases tied to an organizational or project need (software must include training; routine maintenance is not eligible). Available to nonprofit arts organizations only.
Special Opportunities funds cannot be used for: Any project or activity currently funded through another Tennessee Arts Commission grant Routine operating expenses not directly tied to an eligible use Ongoing maintenance or website costs Any activity the Commission determines to be outside the scope or intent of this grant category Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted How to Apply & Requirements Register to use the Online Grants System .
Register well in advance of your deadline; late registrations may delay your ability to apply. Complete the “Organization” and “People” profiles accurately. This information is used in application review.
Select “Apply for a ROLLING Grant” → “Special Opportunities. ” Complete all application fields and upload required attachments. Submit at least 30 days prior to the project start date.
Note: Forms do not auto-save. Always click “Save” before navigating away. Using your browser’s back button will exit the system and erase your work.
If you are associated with multiple organizations, check the correct organization name prepopulated in your application. Update if needed. Applicants must complete and successfully submit all sections of the FY2027 Rolling Grant Application, including required uploads, at least 30 days before the project start date.
Required Documents (Organizations/Entities of Government): Current bylaws (on file in Organization profile) IRS EIN (in the name of the applicant organization) Corporation Annual Report (TN Secretary of State “Printer Friendly Version” PDF) Current Board of Directors list including: Other biographical info should not be included. Commission funds may not be used to pay board members.
Applications are reviewed in-house by Commission staff. Funding notification will take place via email. Payment and Close-Out Requirements Grant funds will be paid as reimbursements after the activity.
Grantees must submit all required close-out paperwork no later than 30 days after the activity end date. Failure to do so may jeopardize future funding.
Applications will be reviewed for: Clarity and feasibility of the proposed activity Alignment with program purpose and eligible uses Demonstrated organizational capacity to complete the activity Potential impact on organizational strength and/or community engagement The Tennessee Arts Commission reserves the right to deny or withhold, in whole or in part, public funds for projects or activities deemed inappropriate or outside the scope or spirit of this program.
A completed FY27 Title VI training and certification must be completed before any grant funds will be disbursed. Non-Discrimination Statement 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 .
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. General information, to determine eligibility to apply, and Performing Arts: Jared Morrison , Director of Performing Arts – jared.
morrison@tn. gov Shannon Ford , Director of Community Arts Development – shannon. ford@tn.
gov Chris Sweatt , Director of Arts Education – chris. sweatt@tn. gov Folk and Traditional Arts: Bradley Hanson , Director of Folklife – bradley.
a. hanson@tn. gov Lee Baird , Director of Literary Arts – lee.
baird@tn. gov Visual, Craft, Media and Design Arts: Krishna Adams , Director of Visual Arts, Craft, Media, and Design – krishna. adams@tn.
gov Kim Johnson , Director of Arts and Health – kim. johnson@tn. gov Address: 320 6th Ave N.
, Nashville, TN 37219 For accessibility accommodation requests including alternate digital formats, captioning, ASL, and assistive technologies please contact Kim Johnson, Director of Arts & Health, 615-532-9797.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit organizations legally chartered and headquartered in Tennessee, or entities of Local Government within Tennessee. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $5,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Applications for Special Opportunities: Arts Forward are due July 1, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
Special Opportunities: Arts Forward is funded by Tennessee Arts Commission. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in Tennessee. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
Individual Artist Fellowship (Tennessee Arts Commission) is a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission that funds outstanding professional Tennessee artists whose work adds to the cultural vitality of the state. Fellowships recognize individuals who, through education, experience, or natural talent, engage deeply in a particular art form or discipline and rely on their artistic work as a significant source of livelihood. Eligible applicants must be professional artists who are residents of Tennessee and are financially compensated for their creative work. No matching funds are required. Awards are made across multiple artistic disciplines on a competitive basis each year.
Arts Build Communities (ABC) Grant is a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission that funds locally administered arts projects addressing community priorities and broadening access to arts experiences across Tennessee. The program supports innovative arts experiences, programs for positive community change, asset-based cultural enterprises, and creative placemaking initiatives. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits legally chartered in Tennessee, local government entities, and colleges and universities engaged in community-serving activities; organizations receiving Major Cultural Institution or Partnership Support funding are ineligible. Awards are up to $5,000 per application. The application deadline is July 1, 2026.
Jerome Early-Career Project Grants is a grant from Forecast Public Art, funded by the Jerome Foundation, that funds the creation of new public art projects by early-career artists based in Minnesota. Two grants of $8,000 each are awarded annually to support temporary or permanent public artworks anywhere in Minnesota. Projects may be supported by public or nonprofit agencies but private commissions are not eligible, and a secured project site is required at the time of application. The program places special emphasis on supporting BIPOC and Native artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, women artists, immigrant artists, rural artists, and artists with disabilities. Eligible applicants are Minnesota-based individual artists with 2–10 years of generative experience. The application deadline was October 15, 2025.
The Local Cultural Council Program is a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council distributing $1,000 to $10,000 through a statewide network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) representing every city and town in the Commonwealth. Each LCC awards funds based on local community cultural needs as assessed by council members. Eligible applicants include artists, nonprofits, schools, and organizations pursuing arts, humanities, and science projects. Applications are submitted directly to local councils and are typically due by October 16. Grants from most LCCs are reimbursement-based. Massachusetts Cultural Council funds the LCCs centrally, which then regrant to community projects.
NEA Grants for Arts Projects runs its second FY cycle with a July 9 Part 1 (Grants.gov) deadline and a July 21 Part 2 (Applicant Portal) deadline. Awards run $10,000–$100,000 against a mandatory 1:1 match, and only 501(c)(3)s with five years of arts programming qualify. Here's how the two-step submission, the match math, and the five-year rule decide who actually gets funded.
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