Limited Submission Opportunity: Tennessee Arts Commission Arts Access Annual Grant FY2026

Applications due Nov. 7, 2024

Vanderbilt University may submit one application to the Tennessee Arts Commission Arts Access (AA) Annual Grant program for the 2026 fiscal year.

Overview

The Arts Access Annual Grant category offers direct support for arts projects which focus on increasing access to underserved and underrepresented people which may include ethnic groups*, people with disabilities, people age 60 years and older, and active duty/veterans and their families. A project may start no earlier than July 1, 2025, and must end no later than June 15, 2026.

*Ethnic groups are defined as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander or other groups that constitute less than the state's current majority population.

Funds awarded in this category range from $1,000 to $25,000 for arts organizations & for non-arts organizations.

***For FY26: Arts Access Grants will not require a match during the FY26 AA Grant cycle. While there is no match requirement, the budget section requires that you include your entire projected budget.***

Proposed arts projects must involve one or more of these recognized art forms including: visual arts, craft, media, design, music, theater, dance, folk and ethnic, or literary arts.

The following are examples of activities and expenditures that are consistent with the funding philosophy for AA:

• Contracted artists fees for professional artists
• Master classes, workshops, programs, projects or activities involving artists
• Specific aspects of workshops, festivals and conferences
• Public performances, productions and exhibitions produced by the applicant
• Exhibitions of art by professional artists
• Promotion, publicity and newsletters
• Materials and supplies needed for participants in the proposed art project
• Administrative and artistic staff support (except for applicants who apply for or receive operating support from the TN Art Commission in other grant categories).
• Technical/production support

See the Arts Access page for more information.

Internal Application Instructions

Interested faculty should click here to apply for the internal LSO competition and to find additional information about the opportunity. The deadline for the internal competition is Nov. 7, 2024.

Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to [email protected].