The Targeted Arts Development Initiative supports arts projects in underserved, rural communities, with a special focus on Distressed and At-Risk counties.
Donor Name: Tennessee Arts Commission
State: Tennessee
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: All Time
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
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.
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.
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.
- 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, Lawrence, Moore, Polk, Stewart, and Trousdale.
Funding Information
$1,000-$5,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- 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. Individual artists may not apply directly for the grant. Those applicants existing in Distressed and At-Risk counties may also qualify. Please contact Evangeline Mee, Traditional Arts Specialist, at Evangeline.Mee@tn.gov to verify if funds are available.
- 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. Activities that are credit-producing or oriented primarily to university students and the academic community are not eligible.)
For more information, visit TAC.
