The Creative Placemaking grant competition is designed to help communities enhance the distinctive local character of Tennessee places for positive economic and community outcomes.
Donor Name: Tennessee Arts Commission
State: Tennessee
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/20/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The Commission believes that creativity is a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship and invention. Many organizations, businesses and local governments collaborate to reinvest in and revitalize their communities, and the arts often represent a way to cultivate and capitalize upon creativity with lasting economic benefits.
In creative placemaking, partners from public, private, nonprofit and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city or region around arts and cultural activities or assets. Creative placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business visibility and public safety, and brings diverse people together to build shared understanding of culture and community.
Funding Information
Creative Placemaking grant awards may range from $3,000 to $30,000.
Project Period
For Projects Occurring July 1, 2026 – June 1, 2027.
Eligible Projects
Examples of eligible projects or activities may include but are not limited to:
- Arts used as a catalyst to revitalize downtowns or neighborhoods
- Development of an arts or cultural business incubator or apprenticeship program
- Transformation of a perceived community liability into a community asset through the arts
- Development of an activity or project that encourages greater engagement with the arts in state parks, farmer’s markets, or other natural, unique ecological or recreational assets
Eligibility Requirements
Engaging public and private partners is often critical to the success of local development activities through the arts. To increase the likelihood of success and sustainability, the Commission encourages communities to involve public, private (including nonprofit organizations) and institutional partners in the development of a CP grant proposal.
The lead applicant is eligible to apply if the organization meets one of the following qualifications:
- The organization is an entity of local government or regional quasi-governmental entity (development district, human resource agency, etc.)
- The applicant is a nonprofit organization legally chartered in Tennessee and in possession of a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service declaring the organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code
- Schools, colleges and universities are ineligible to serve as lead applicants, although they would be welcome as partners. All Creative Placemaking grants will be awarded and disbursed to lead applicants only.
For more information, visit Tennessee Arts Commission.
