Arts Education Community Impact Grant

Arts Education Community Impact Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Tennessee Arts Commission
Amount: More than US $20,000
Last Updated: October 28, 2025

Summary

The Arts Education Community Impact Grant, provided by the Tennessee Arts Commission, aims to enhance arts education through sustainable, community-driven initiatives. This three-year funding opportunity encourages partnerships among K-12 public schools, nonprofit arts organizations, and local agencies to address gaps in arts education. By emphasizing collaborative efforts and shared leadership, the grant seeks to create lasting systemic change, ensuring high-quality arts learning for all Tennessee K-12 students while supporting innovative projects and community engagement.

Overview

Tennessee Arts Commission Our Mission The Tennessee Arts Commission was created in 1967 by the Tennessee General Assembly with the special mandate to stimulate and encourage the presentation of the visual, literary, music and performing arts and to encourage public interest in the cultural heritage of Tennessee. Arts Education Community Impact Grant Support for high-impact arts education initiatives that build sustainable, community-driven systems to address opportunities and gaps in arts education. The Arts Education Community Impact Grant supports cross-sector partnerships in building sustainable arts education systems across Tennessee. Grounded in principles of collective impact, this grant program aims to create lasting, systemic change by transforming how arts organizations, schools, and communities work together to ensure high-quality arts learning for all Tennessee K-12 students. This program builds on the Commission’s legacy of supporting school-based arts integration and reflects current field priorities emphasizing cross-sector partnerships to support arts education. Designed as a three-year funding opportunity, the program supports partnerships to address opportunities and gaps in arts education through planning, implementation, and knowledge sharing, while emphasizing community-driven approaches, shared leadership, impact, and sustainability. A 2:1 match is required. Applicants must provide $1 in cash match for every $2 in grant funds awarded.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Lead applicants must be: Tennessee-based K–12 public schools or school districts, 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organizations, public higher education institutions, or local government agenciesPartnered with at least two additional cross-sector organizations (e.g., arts councils, arts education professional associations, community organizations, foundations, local government, local businesses, corporate or business partners, schools, higher education, etc.)At least one partner in the project must be a public K-12 school or school district Projects may include (but are not limited to): Creative workforce development or arts-related career and technical educationDevelopment of innovative arts learning models or systemsExpanding standards-based arts education for students with limited participationIntegration of arts learning with broader community development goalsProfessional learning initiatives that expand training opportunities and statewide coverage for teaching artists, educators, and arts leadersProjects that integrate artificial intelligence or other emerging technologies to advance innovation, evaluation, and instructional design in arts educationSchool-based or district-wide arts integration initiativesTeaching artist residencies or co-teaching frameworks that model sustainable approaches for integrating artists into K–12 learning environments Eligible Expenses for Grant Funds:Compensation for arts professionals delivering direct instruction, professional development, or artistic programmingProfessional fees for external consultants, including evaluators, facilitators, curriculum developers, and advisorsStipends for project coordination directly tied to grant activitiesCommunity engagement activities designed to connect project work with the broader communityProfessional development for staff involved in delivering or supporting the programEvaluation tools used to track progress and outcomesConsumable supplies and materialsProgram documentation and dissemination, including photography, videography, printed reports, or digital storytelling that captures and shares the project’s process and outcomesTravel and transportation costs related to program delivery