Arts Build Communities

Important dates for FY 2025:

Monday, April 8, 2024 – Applications open

Wednesday, May 8, 2024 from 3-4 PM – virtual workshop for interested applicants. RSVP to to Suzanne Cada at sc@knoxalliance.com or (865) 523-7543 for Zoom link.

Monday, July 1, 2024 by 11:59 PM (CT) – Online application deadline, see https://tnartscommission.org/grants/arts-build-communities-grant/ for more information.

Friday, August 9: Grant Panel Review via Microsoft Teams (with dial-in options), applications reviewed beginning shortly after 8:30 AM (EST)

Helpful documents:
ABC Guidelines FY25
ABC Budget Line Items definitions
Panelist scoring rubric

ABC tutorials are available at https://www.tnartscommission.org/abc-tutorials/.

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The Tennessee Arts Commission is partnering with 13 designated agencies across the state to administer Arts Build Communities (ABC) grants for Fiscal Year 2025. ABC grants 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.

Grant Period: August 16, 2024 – June 15, 2025 (NEW! Applications that propose arts activities related to the Juneteenth holiday are eligible for Arts Build Communities grants as long as proposed projects conclude with all project expenses disbursed by June 20, 2025.)
Grant Awards: $500 to $5,000 (NEW! No required match)

Applications must be submitted through the Commission’s online grants system (FLUXX) by 11:59 PM (CST) on Monday, July 1, 2024. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED and recommended several weeks in advance of deadline.

For more information about applying for a grant, please contact Suzanne Cada at (865) 523-7543 or sc@knoxalliance.com, or the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Arts Build Communities Coordinator, Melissa Moody, at (615) 253-5133 or melissa.moody@tn.gov.

The Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville requests Arts Build Communities grant proposals for art projects from any non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located within the following eleven East Tennessee counties: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union.

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

(1) 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

(2) 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.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is one of 13 designated agencies that administer the ABC program statewide on behalf of the Tennessee Arts Commission. Designated agencies are trained to assist ABC applicants with identifying eligible activities, provide feedback on draft applications, administer local grant review panels, and help grant recipients track the success of funded activities.

Prior to submitting an application, qualifying organizations should discuss the program or project proposal with their designated agency or the TAC.