Targeted Arts Development Initiative Grant Program

The Targeted Arts Development Initiative Grant Program aims to support arts projects in underserved, rural communities in Tennessee, particularly focusing on distressed and at-risk counties. This initiative encourages government and nonprofit entities to apply for funding that utilizes arts and cultural activities to benefit their communities. By building capacity and developing leadership potential, the program seeks to enhance participation in existing grant categories, ultimately fostering growth in areas identified as needing assistance.

NOTE: Application Deadline: 30 days prior to the beginning date of the project activity
Purpose:

• Support for arts projects in underserved, rural communities with special focus on Distressed counties and At-Risk counties.

The Targeted Arts Development Initiative (TADI) is a strategy developed to reach counties identified by the Tennessee Arts Commission as under-represented in Commission investments. TADI is designed to build capacity and develop leadership potential, while encouraging applications from the identified counties to existing Commission grant categories or programs.
The Targeted Arts Development Initiative (TADI) is a strategy developed to:
Better serve Distressed counties, including Bledsoe, Clay, Cocke, Grundy, Hancock, Haywood, Hardeman, Lake, Perry, Pickett, and Scott. Counties identified as At-Risk counties may also qualify. At-Risk counties for FY2026 include Benton, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Claiborne, Decatur, DeKalb, Fentress, Greene, Hardin, Hawkins, Houston, Jackson, Johnson, Lauderdale, McNairy, Meigs, Morgan, Overton, Sequatchie, Unicoi, Van Buren, Warren, and Wayne.
and/or
Reach counties in Tennessee which have been identified by the Commission as needing capacity building technical assistance for the current fiscal year. FY2026 counties are Crockett, Dyer, Fayette, Giles, Henderson, Humphreys, Lawrence, Lewis, Marshall, Moore, Polk, Stewart, Tipton, Trousdale and White.
Government and nonprofit entities within identified counties above with projects that use arts and cultural activities to benefit their community, build upon existing assets, or overcome challenges are urged to apply. The Targeted Arts Development Initiative is designed to leverage investments and develop leadership potential, while encouraging applications from the identified rural and/or distressed counties to existing Commission grant categories or programs. Periodic reviews of the Commission’s grant portfolio may determine if counties are added to or removed from the Targeted Arts Development Initiative program.

Eligibility

Government entities, schools, and organizations within any of the above counties, and artists who can use arts and cultural activities to benefit schools and communities in these counties are urged to contact Commission staff to discuss this opportunity.Note the applicant must be a nonprofit organization or local government entity. Those applicants existing in Distressed and At-Risk counties may also qualify.Those who may apply include Federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit arts and non-arts organizations or governmental organizations including units of government, schools, colleges, and universities.Colleges and universities may be eligible and only for activities that clearly serve the needs of surrounding communities or the state, and are designed to involve community input during planning and a broad audience.All applicants must be able to provide an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Applicants who have not already done so must register with the federal government in the sam.gov website to secure a UEI. For more information see Transition from DUNS to UEI.First time, nonprofit applicants will be required to upload a copy of the organization’s Tennessee state charter (verification of incorporation), current by-laws, and letter of determination from the Internal Revenue Service recognizing the applicant organization as a nonprofit corporation.Nonprofit applicants will be required to upload a Corporation Annual Report as filed annually with the Secretary of State’s Office with every application submitted. In lieu of the report, you may also upload a copy of the email verification issued by the Secretary of State’s office or a copy of the online verification sheet maintained by the Secretary of State’s Office.No match is required for TADI grants.

Ineligibility

Individual artists may not apply directly for the grant.Activities that are credit-producing or oriented primarily to university students and the academic community are not eligible.Arts organizations that receive revenue directly from a “New Specialty Earmarked Plate” under T.C.A 55-4-215 (a) (1) are ineligible for Commission grant funding.