Nonprofit organizations with an arts-based mission in Shelby County, Tennessee, DeSoto or Tate County, Mississippi with a minimum three-year history of presenting quality arts projects are eligible to apply. Organizations must have an active and supportive Board of Directors and be organized as a 501(c)3.

• If your mission does not solely address art, you are not eligible to apply.  Your organizational mission must be focused on an arts discipline only in order to be eligible.

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact Colleen McCartney, Grants & Initiatives Manager at 901-578-2787, [email protected] before beginning work on an application.

ArtsFirst grants may be used to support the following activities:

• General Operating Support
• Capital Campaign Support
• Project Support
• Sponsorship
• Scholarship
• Other

ArtsFirst Grants may not be used to support:

• Individuals
• Trips and Tours
• Charities sponsored solely by a single civic organization
• 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

The FY20 ArtsFirst application is available on the ArtsMemphis Grant Platform.

• If you have not used our platform before, please visit our tutorial videos here.

To download the Staff and Board Template, please click here. 

To download a copy of the LOI question list, please click here. 

To download a copy of the application question list, please click here. 

Grant awards will be announced by March 2020 Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.  

PLEASE NOTE:  ArtsMemphis requires organizations that work with anyone under age 18 to have a board-approved Child Protection Policy in place before funding will be provided.  If you are approved for funding and you work with people under age 18 but do not have a policy in place, payment will be delayed until your organization’s board approves a policy.  If you have questions, please contact Tracy Lauritzen Wright (901-578-2787, [email protected])

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

Questions received by January 10, 2020 will be answered and included in the FAQ document.

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