For a complete list of eligibility requirements, please visit the Tennessee Arts Commission website here. 

An organization is eligible to apply for funding support of its arts activities if the organization meets one of the following qualifications:

• The organization is a nonprofit organization legally chartered in Tennessee and in possession of a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service declaring the organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Private educational institutions must be a nonprofit and meet these tax-exempt requirements.

-OR-

• The organization is an entity of government (such as city/county government departments, public libraries, public schools, etc.)

Colleges and universities are eligible only for activities that clearly serve the needs of surrounding communities or the State and are designed to involve a broad audience. Activities that are credit-producing or are oriented primarily to collegiate students and the academic community are not eligible.

For a complete list of the grant guidelines, please visit the Tennessee Arts Commission website here.

The proposed project must take place and grants funds must be used between August 16, 2021 and June 15, 2022.

ABC funds may NOT be used:

• To support a project already funded by the Commission
• For capital improvements (construction expenses or equipment purchases)
• For the elimination of an accumulated deficit
• For in-school, curriculum-based projects
• For endowments
• For out-of-state travel expenses

Please note:

• All projects sponsored in part or entirely with ABC funds must be accessible to the general public
• Applications from colleges or universities or other institutions of higher education, whether public or private, must emphasize non-academic community involvement in the planning and implementation of the project

ABC requires at least a one-to-one (1:1) dollar match. “One-to-one dollar match” means the applicant must cover at least half the cost of a project or program through other income sources. Matching funds may be listed in multiple expense categories.

Click Here to be taken to the application platform. 

If you have not used the TAC platform before, please visit their tutorial pages here.

You may submit questions about this grant in writing to Colleen Chandler at [email protected]

A link to the FAQ document will be provided after the grant application opens.