Deadline: 19-Jan-21
The Tennessee Arts Commission is seeking applications for its Creative Placemaking (CP) grant that is designed to help communities enhance the distinctive local character of Tennessee places for positive economic and community outcomes.
In Creative Placemaking, partners from public, private, nonprofit and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of their neighbourhood, town, city, or region around arts and cultural activities or assets.
Funding Information
- The Tennessee Arts Commission expects to provide five to ten awards ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 for projects that occur in one place.
- Applications that involve partnerships of two or more towns, cities and/or counties can request up to $15,000.
- At least two awards will be made to eligible rural applicants.
- Applications must clearly show a 1:4 cash or in-kind match commitment by the applicant. That is, for every $4 of Commission funding requested, the grantee must provide a minimum of $1.
Eligibility Criteria
- 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.
- Debarment and Suspension. Grantees are required to sign contracts certifying to the best of its knowledge and belief, that it, its current and future principals, its current and future subcontractors and their principals are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any federal or state department or agency.
- 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.
- Examples of eligible projects or activities may include but are not limited to:
- Arts used as a catalyst to revitalize downtowns or neighbourhoods;
- Development of art 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.
- Ineligible Projects for CP Grant category:
- Operating support for arts organizations or ongoing arts programming;
- Marketing and promotional materials;
- Standard Commission funding restrictions. However, for the CP grant category only, costs for equipment, if integral to the project, are allowable;
- Arts organizations that receive revenue from a “New Specialty Earmarked Plate” under T.C.A 55-4-215 (a) (1) are ineligible for Commission grant funding.
Evaluation Criteria
Evaluators reviewing grant applications under this program use the following evaluation criteria:
- The extent to which a project or activity builds on the distinctiveness of place using arts or cultural assets and demonstrates a potential to stimulate economic or community growth through the arts.
- Evidence that the project or activity effectively addresses a community purpose, issue or need
- The capability of the applicant to perform the activity, including evidence of financial and/or in-kind commitment for local match and overall project support beyond the minimum, required match as described in the budget narrative.
- Level of community support demonstrated by letters of support and indications of active participation from community stakeholders or partners. Strong applications will include letters from two or more partners or types of partners including private, government, arts and cultural nonprofits or other community partners.
- Articulation of clear, measurable outcomes, including sustainability.
For more information, visit https://tnartscommission.org/grants/creative-placemaking-grants-competition/