TAC Major Cultural Institutions Grant

TAC Major Cultural Institutions Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Tennessee Arts Commission
Amount: Up to US $200,000
Last Updated: November 01, 2025

Summary

The TAC Major Cultural Institutions Grant provides crucial operational support to established arts organizations in Tennessee. Eligible organizations must demonstrate a strong history of programming, with at least three consecutive years of annual revenue exceeding $1 million. This competitive grant allows for funding requests up to $200,000, based on documented operating expenses. The grant aims to enhance the cultural landscape of Tennessee by supporting organizations that make a significant impact on their communities.

Overview

Background Support to well-established arts organizations headquartered & chartered in Tennessee, with a history of significant year-round arts programming. Organizations chartered in Tennessee that represent the highest level of quality programming and administration are eligible. Funding will depend upon an organization’s rating in the review process and upon the total amount of funds available to the Commission for grant allocation. This grant program is competitive, and most grant requests are not fully funded. Description The Major Cultural Institution (MCI) category provides operating support to well-established arts organizations (see glossary to define arts organizations) chartered in Tennessee that represent the highest level of quality programming and administration. Funding will depend upon an organization’s application rating from the review process, circumstances that could affect services provided to the community and the total amount of funds available to the Commission for grant allocation. This category is competitive. Organizations are required to have sustained 3 consecutive years of annual operating revenue in excess of $1 million. Organizations eligible to apply for Major Cultural Institution funds must maintain this operating revenue annually or forfeit inclusion in this category. Organizations will not be permitted to request re-entry (through a Letter of Intent) until they have sustained 3 consecutive years of annual operating revenue in excess of $1 million. Organizations may request 15% of their total annual cash operating expenses in their most recently completed fiscal year at the time they submit their application up to, but not exceeding the maximum grant of $200,000. The total annual cash operating expenses, verified by an audit submitted by the applicant, will be determined by the sum total of: Salaries, Benefits & Taxes,Professional Fee, Grant & Award,Supplies, Telephone Postage & Shipping, Occupancy, Equipment Rental & Maintenance, Printing & Publications,Travel, Conferences & Meetings, andOther Non-Personnel First-time applicants to this category must contact their program director to discuss eligibility, and then submit a letter requesting entry into the category. The letter should describe how the applicant meets the eligibility requirements and the evaluation criteria for the category. Include a staff list with current annual salaries and benefits and your most recent audit, IRS Form 990, or year-end financial statement. Because this is a request to receive unrestricted operational support, any or all activities of your organization may be examined before a decision is made on your request. Allowable Expenses Salaries, benefits & taxes; professional fees; supplies, telephone, postage & shipping, occupancy, equipment Rental & maintenance, printing & publications; travel, conferences & meetings; and other non-personnel expenditures when allowable and accompanied by a detailed explanation of those expenses.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicant must be either a single-entity organization responsible for its own programming and primarily dedicated to one art discipline, or an arts council which serves a broad population and interacts with local arts organizations.Arts festivals, arts centers and presenting organizations are not eligible for this grant category.Year-round public activity and arts programming that significantly impacts Tennesseans and their communities must be evident.Applicant must have existed as an arts organization or arts council in Tennessee for a minimum of six (6) years prior to the date of application and have received a minimum of three (3) consecutive years of Commission funding in the Partnership Support Grant category.An organization is eligible to apply for funding if the organization is legally chartered in Tennessee and has its headquarters and home season, or activities equivalent to a home season for non-producing organizations, in Tennessee, and meets either of the following qualifications: active IRS 501(c)3 status or public arts council that serves a broad population and interacts with local arts organizations. A significant amount of year-round public activity and programming must be evident that significantly impacts Tennesseans and their communities. Organization must have a board approved long-range plan covering at least the current and next fiscal years.The existence of professional management, which is defined as employing a full-time paid administrative or artistic director, must be evident. Additionally, a commitment to compensating (in salaries, wages, fees, and/or benefits) the administrative, artistic, and technical/production personnel whose services contribute directly to the organization must be evident.The organization must demonstrate ongoing fiscal responsibility through an audit conducted externally by a certified public accountant (CPA) for its most recently completed fiscal year at the time of application. Organizations in this category should use an accrual accounting system. Note: failure to submit a single entity audit of the most recently completed fiscal year will jeopardize eligibility and funding.Organizations must have a board approved long-range plan covering at least the current and next fiscal years.

Ineligibility

In determining a request, the following operating expenses are not allowed: capital expenses, endowment funds expenses, penalties payments, in-kind expenses, bank penalties, or furniture and fixture expenditures. Other expenses may be deemed unallowable by the Commission.A freestanding academic institution, which has as its mission, training and accreditation in one or more arts disciplines, is not eligible in this category. Arts festivals, arts centers and presenting organizations are not eligible for this grant category.Arts organizations that receive revenue from a “New Specialty Earmarked Plate” under T.C.A 55-4-215 (a) (1) are ineligible for Commission grant funding.