Bailey Opportunity Grants
Important FY 2026 dates:
- Open Zoom meetings for applicants (all times EST):
Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 4:00 PM
Thursday, March 6, 6:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8653826742?pwd=Q1UwOG9FQXc4ZHdSNUhJbzlaVlJ3Zz09
Meeting ID: 865 382 6742
Passcode: 379020
—- - Video recording of helpful application tips is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/LYg8JCd_Ldk or watch below.
- Sunday, March 23, 2025 at midnight: Bailey Opportunity Grants Receipt Deadline. Electronic submissions to grants@knoxalliance.com are required.
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to speak with Liza Zenni, Executive Director of the Arts & Culture Alliance, prior to submitting an application. Email LZ@knoxalliance.com to request a phone or Zoom meeting if you are unable to attend a meeting time posted above.
- Mid-May 2025: Awards announced
- Tuesday, July 1, 2025: Grant funds available for use/spending
Through the generosity of Ann and Steve Bailey, the Arts & Culture Alliance offers Bailey Opportunity Grants, providing opportunities for growth to individual artists and small, professionally oriented arts and culture organizations. Opportunity Grants are meant to help Knoxville’s artists and small 501(C)(3)-designated art and culture organizations advance artistically and professionally.
ELIGIBILITY
- Applicant must have lived (or be legally domiciled) within 50 miles of downtown Knoxville since at least January 1, 2024 and must remain so during the grant period (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026).
- For Individuals: Applicant must be at least 18 years old and may not be enrolled in a full-time degree-seeking program.
- For Organizations: Annual budget may not have exceeded $100,000 in any of the past five years. Applicant organizations must have attained 501(c)(3) status or be non-profit in nature. No applications from nonprofessional (pastime/hobby) organizations will be accepted at this time.
- Applicant must have exhibited, performed, presented and/or published artistic work in a public context in Knox County within the last 36 months (2022-2025).
- Applicant must be a member of the Arts & Culture Alliance at the time of the application and throughout grant period (see knoxalliance.com/join-renew). Applications from those who are not members of the Arts & Culture Alliance at the time of the grant deadline will not be considered.
- Staff, board members, and relatives of staff or board members of the Arts & Culture Alliance are ineligible.
- Previous grantees are eligible to apply.
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate need.
- Individual or organization applies as part of only ONE application.
Any question of eligibility should be directed to Liza Zenni at LZ@knoxalliance.com before the application is made. Additionally, the Arts & Culture Alliance is developing an accelerator program to help applicants in all areas of business growth and nonprofit management. If interested in participating in a Bailey Accelerator program, please contact Casey Fox at CF@knoxalliance.com.
Grant Period: July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Bailey Opportunity Grant-supported purchases SHOULD NOT be made prior to this date.
Applicants may apply for a maximum of $15,000 in support, although most grants range in size from $1,000 to $4,500.
The goal of Bailey Opportunity Grants is to create a more vital creative community in Knoxville by: encouraging applicants’ contributions to the city’s economy and quality of life; positioning Knoxville as a community that honors its arts community and supports their efforts to achieve excellence; raising the arts community’s public profiles within the city and beyond.