The 2027 grant timeline will be announced in fall 2026.

• ArtsFirst is open to 501c3 organizations in Shelby County with an arts-based mission and focus, a minimum three-year history of presenting quality arts projects and programs, and an active board of directors. 

• Applications by fiscal agents are not permitted. 

• Organizations that have not received one grant through any ARTSmemphis program (Arts Build Communities, ArtsFirst, ArtsZone, FedEx Arts Program, Operating Support) since July 2022, are not eligible to apply.  Arts Build Communities is recommended for first-time applicants. 

• Organizations currently receiving multi-year funding or funding outside of the ArtsFirst grant program from First Horizon, are not eligible to apply.

• This grant is not open to individual artists.

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact Nur Abdalla.

• All grant applications must be submitted using the online grant application platform.

• FY26 Application:  ArtsFirst grants may be used to support the following activities after March 1, 2026:

  • General Operating Support

  • Project Support

  • Sponsorship

  • Capital Campaigns

• ArtsFirst grants may NOT be used to support:

  • Individuals

  • Trips and Tours

  • Charities sponsored solely by a single civic organizations

  • Charities that redistribute funds to other charitable organizations, except in the case of recognized united fund-type organizations

  • K-12 schools and solely religious, social, or fraternal organizations

  • Political organizations or those having the primary purpose of influencing legislation or promoting a particular ideological point of view

  • Operating budget deficits

• Data and information provided by organizations during grant application processes is utilized by ARTSmemphis to advocate and secure funding for the local arts sector, including this grant program and will be shared with the grant funder, First Horizon Foundation.

Requests

• Requests may be for program or project support, season sponsorship, or for general operating support.

• There is not a suggested minimum or maximum request amount but grants typically range from $5,000 to $30,000.

• It is expected that this grant is not the sole or primary source of funding for your project, so it is not advisable to request a high percentage of the project budget.

• Proposed projects should not begin before March 1, 2026. If you are requesting operating support or season sponsorship, the request may be for the fiscal year that includes Fall 2026, Winter, Spring and/or Summer 2027.

• Submission of an application for funding does not guarantee that funding will be awarded. Award of funding one year does not guarantee funding the following year. If not awarded funding, this does not exclude organizations from the opportunity to apply for funding in following years.

• If your organization is awarded an ArtsFirst grant you will be required to do or provide the following:

  • Community Reinvestment Act information

  • Updated LIVEGIVE account link or 501c3 Determination Letter and most recent 990

  • First Horizon Foundation Recognition and Benefit Opportunities

AngelStreet Memphis | Summer Program: Vocal Bootcamp

Ballet Memphis | General Operating Support

Carpenter Art Garden | General Operating Support

Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group | Day of the Dead Community Arts Programming 2026

Company d | Momentum-Moving Forward - Artist in Residency 

Contemporary Arts Memphis | Arts Enrichment: Summer Fellowship Alumni and Community Programming

Creative Aging Memphis | Season Support

Dixon Gallery and Gardens | Café Society: Art and Sociability in Paris, 1855 – 1914

GPAC | Season 32 Artistic Performances & Arts Education

Memphis Jazz Workshop | Summer 2026 Jazz Camp

Memphis Symphony Orchestra | 2026-2027 Season

New Ballet Ensemble & School | Pathways Program

Opera Memphis | Expanding Horizons

Orpheum Theatre Group | Arts Engagement

Soulsville Foundation | Power of Music Awards Honors

Tennessee Shakespeare Company | 10th Annual Free Shout-Out Shakespeare Series production of LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST

Theatre Memphis | Season Support

UrbanArt Commission | Vision to Visibility: Artist Support Initiative

Young Actors Guild | YAG Season 35

AngelStreet Memphis | Operating Support

Ballet Memphis | Ballet Memphis Season 39 Sponorship

Carpenter Art Garden |Seeds Of Peace

Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group | Dia de los Muertos

Collage Dance Collective | Season 16 Sponsorship

Company d | ‘Dance on the Brain’ Workshop

Contemporary Arts Memphis | Summer Fellowship Alumni and Community Programming

Creative Aging Memphis | Creative Aging Season Sponsorship

Crosstown Arts | Moonpie Project and "Cracks and Crevices"

Dixon Gallery and Gardens | L'Estampe originale

GPAC | Season 31 Artistic Performances & Arts Education Sponsorship

Hattiloo Theatre | Hattiloo Theatre Residency Program

Memphis Jazz Workshop | Teaching Artist Cadre

Memphis Symphony Orchestra | Season 2025-2026 Sponsorship

New Ballet Ensemble & School | Pathways Program

Opera Memphis | Expanding Horizons

Orpheum Theatre Group |Arts Engagement Sponsorship

Soulsville Foundation | SOAR (Student Opportunity Achievements Realized) 25th Anniversary

Tennessee Shakespeare Company | 9th Annual Free Shout-Out Shakespeare Series Season Sponsorship

Theatre Memphis | Theatre Memphis Season Sponsorship

UrbanArt Commission | Vision to Visibility: Artist Support Initiative

Young Actors Guild | YAG Season 34 Sponsorship