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A resolution to approve the criteria for Operating Support and Thrive grants for fiscal year 2026 for the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission.
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WHEREAS, Section 2.112.040(H) of the Metropolitan Code of Laws allows the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission (“Arts Commission”) to award funds appropriated to it by the Metropolitan Council to deserving nonprofit civic and nonprofit charitable organizations; and,
WHEREAS, Section 2.112.040(H) of the Metropolitan Code of Laws requires that criteria for awarding funds to arts organizations shall be established by the Arts Commission and approved by resolution of the Metropolitan Council; and,
WHEREAS, BL2025-833 appropriated $3,262,200.00 to arts organizations for the purpose of funding Operating Support and Thrive grants; and
WHEREAS, the Arts Commission voted to approve the criteria for Operating Support and Thrive grants on June 26th, 2025, copies of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein; and,
WHEREAS, approval of the Operating Support and Thrive grant criteria is in the best interest of the citizens of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the criteria for Operating Support and Thrive grants, copies of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein, are hereby approved.
Section 2. That this resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This resolution approves the criteria for Operating Support and Thrive grants for the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission (“Arts Commission”) for Fiscal Year 2026.
Tennessee Code Annotated section 7-3-314(d) states that arts commissions formed by metropolitan governments may fund nonprofit organizations “involved in the study, participation in and appreciation of” the arts without approval from the Metropolitan Council. Section 2.112.040(H) of the Metropolitan Code of Laws permits the Arts Commission to award funds appropriated by the Metropolitan Council to deserving nonprofit civic and non-profit charitable organizations.
Substitute Ordinance No. BL2025-833, the FY26 operating budget, appropriated $3,262,200 to Arts and Arts Organizations for the purpose of funding grants to nonprofit organizations.
Metropolitan Code of Laws Section 2.112.040(H) further requires that the criteria for awarding funds to arts organizations must be established by the Arts Commission and approved by a Council resolution. The Arts Commission voted to approve the criteria for Operating Support and Thrive grants on June 26, 2025.
Operating Support Grants Criteria
Operating Support grants will fund the general operations of arts-focused nonprofit organizations based in Nashville and Davidson County. Applicants must produce, present, or directly support artistic projects or work, have a primary mission to directly support the performance, exhibition, or instruction of art, and be chartered in the state of Tennessee and tax-exempt by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3). The organizations must have a business address, operate most of its programs in Nashville and Davidson County, and have background checks for all adults who work with youth. Grant funding is permitted to be used for salaries, artist fees, program and project supplies, performance space and facility rental, marketing and promotion, consulting fees, equipment rental or purchase, and fundraising activities. Grant funds cannot be used for capital improvements, reduction of debts, activities and programs with religious practices or intent, political lobbying, or the purchase of real property.
Applications for Operating Support grants must be submitted by August 15, 2025.
Thrive Grants Criteria
Thrive grants are directed for individual artists, artist teams, and nonprofit organizations to support Thrive Community Public Art projects, which are temporary artwork that exist in publicly accessible spaces.
To receive a Thrive grant, applicants must meet the criteria for one of the following eligibility groups: Individual Artists, Artists Collectives, Nonprofit Organizations. Applicants who are not registered Tennessee 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations must work with a fiscal sponsor to receive Thrive Project funding. Applicants may select their own fiscal sponsor or ask the Arts Commission to help identify potential fiscal sponsors.
Individual artists are defined as practitioners in a specific artist genre, including but not limited to dance, film, media arts, craft, literary arts, music, performance art, multidisciplinary work, theater, or visual arts. Individual artists must be 18 years of age or older, live or primarily work in Davidson County, and apply with a fiscal sponsor.
Artist Collectives are art organizations, neighborhood groups, or artist teams that do not hold nonprofit 501(c)(3) status. Artist Collectives must have a lead artist identified to lead the project, must be located in Davidson County, and must apply with a fiscal sponsor.
Nonprofit organizations must have a business address located in Davidson County and operate most of its programs in Nashville. These organizations must have a lead artist identified to lead the project and submit an IRS Letter of Determination with an effective date of exemption of July 1, 2024, or earlier.
All projects or programs must take place in Nashville and Davidson County. All Thrive projects must obtain all necessary permits, licenses, and permissions for a project and comply with all applicable laws and regulations. All Thrive projects that propose to work directly with minors must have background checks for all adults. Thrive grants cannot be awarded to employees of the Metropolitan Government or Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, members of the Arts commission or their immediate family or household members, elected officials of the Metropolitan Government or the Metropolitan Nashville Board of Public Education, or colleges and universities.
Thrive grant funding may only be used to pay for certain expenses directly related to the proposed project or program. These eligible expenses include artist fees, project and program supplies, performance, venue, and facility fees, marking and promotion, equipment rental and/or purchase, and costs related to the event or community engagement activities. Thrive grant funds may not be used for payments to Metro employees, general operating expenses, capital improvements, purchase of real property, activities or programs with religious intent, study, or practice, political lobbying activities, or the creation, installation, and maintenance of public artwork.
Only one Thrive application will be accepted per applicant. Organizations cannot receive a Thrive grant and an Operating Support grant.
Fiscal sponsors and applicants must complete a Letter of Fiscal Sponsorship and Agreement that affirms the sponsor’s intent to serve in that role for a specific artist and project. Fiscal sponsors must have a Submittable account and be added as a collaborator on the application. The Arts Commission will provide $750 to fiscal sponsors for administrative support costs, which will be awarded in addition to any approved grant amount. Fiscal sponsors may forego the $750 allocation. Serving as a fiscal sponsor does not disqualify an organization from receiving a separate Thrive or Operating Support grant.