Arts Fund for East Tennessee

The Arts Fund for East Tennessee was established by East Tennessee Foundation in 1985 to serve as a source of funds in support of excellence in the arts, expand access to the arts, and connect artists with each other and with East Tennessee communities.

The Arts Fund grants program awards two-year grants to support specific projects (exhibits, festivals, performances, art therapy or rehabilitation, or other specific arts events) in the following four categories: Institutional Excellence, Arts Organizations, Community Cultural Projects and Art in Education.

Successful applicants will propose innovative projects or programs that demonstrate: artistic merit; experience and expertise of artistic and other personnel in the project; potential benefit to the community or constituency served; capacity to advance an aspect of the arts and bring it to a wide audience; and/or managerial and fiscal ability to carry out the project.

Examples of possible projects include cultural events and festivals, concerts series and theatre productions, artistic workshops and classes, arts camps for children with disabilities, and young authors conferences.

Arts Fund grants in all categories must be matched on a 1:1 cash basis by the grantee. In-kind contributions may not be used to meet the matching requirements.

The required minimum number of years of 501(c)(3) tax exemption varies depending upon the grant category. (Please refer to each grant category's eligibility requirements in the Request for Proposals.)

Grant info:

• Two-year grants
• Grants will be made on a 1:1 matching basis
• Grant opportunities are available to nonprofit organizations in the Foundation's 25-county service area 
• Grants generally range from $500 to $6,000
• Currently supporting projects between May 1, 2008 - May 1, 2010

2008 Arts Fund for East Tennessee RFP (Click here for guidelines and application)

Please note:Arts Fund grant opportunities will not be available in 2010.

The Arts Fund RFP will be updated, revised and posted on our Website in summer 2010. The application deadline will be November 5, 2010 (postmark), and funding will be available to support two-year projects beginning in May 2011. 

For further information, please contact Jan Elston (865) 524-1223, toll-free at 877-524-1223 or by e-mail at jelston@etf.org.

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