Arts Build Communities ("ABC")

What are ABC Grants?

The Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC) offers the Arts Build Communities (ABC) grant program in partnership with ArtsMemphis for organizations seeking support in the following West TN counties: Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby, Tipton. (Overall, 13 designated agencies administer the ABC program on behalf of TAC in all 95 counties of the state.)

The Arts Build Communities (ABC) grant program is designed to provide support for arts projects that broaden access to arts experiences, address community quality of life issues through the arts, or enhance the sustainability of asset-based cultural enterprises.

In 2017:

$50,000 in ABC grants resulted in additional investment of $345,000.
32,000 people benefitted from ABC activities, including 8,400 youth.
Project-related donations of goods and services were valued at $265,646, including 1,761 volunteers working 11,194 hours.

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April 1, 2019	FY20 ABC guidelines and application go live
April - May 2019	ArtsMemphis workshops held. Times and locations TBD
July 1, 2019	FY20 ABC Applications Due
July 23-August 9, 2019	ABC Grant Panel Meetings. ArtsMemphis Panel date TBD.
August 15, 2019	Award and Decline Notificiations

The Deadlines and Eligibility for the FY20 ABC Grant will be updated April 1, 2019.

How to Apply

All ABC applications must be made through TAC's Online Grants System. Applicants accessing the new Online Grants System for the first time must register their organizations and create an organizational profile.

General Inquiries

If you have questions about Arts Build Communities, you can contact Colleen McCartney, Office and Program Coordinator, by emailing [email protected]artsmemphis.org, or by calling 901.578.ARTS.