Project Grants for Tennessee Artists

Contemporary visual artists who are 21 years of age and older and residing in the state of Tennessee are eligible to apply. Applicants must provide proof of TN residency. 

No, there is not an application fee.

How to Submit an application

• You will need to create a free Submittable account or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials to submit to these forms.
• You can save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date.
• If anything changes with the information you submitted, please request to edit the submission
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Submittable will follow-up with you about your submission by email. Please be sure to whitelist notification emails from Submittable and check the email you used to sign up for your Submittable Account regularly. Check out the Submitter Resource Center or reach out to Submittable's Customer Support team with any technical questions here.

Art portfolio website, CV, and other related documentation 

The submission of a project title, vision statement, long format project description, proposed timeline, proposed materials, audience description, geographic location, physical scale, applicable web links, and other descriptors is required. Applicants should upload the following to their application: concept renderings, relevant visuals, schematics, or plans. Including numerous support files with a proposal is strongly encouraged. Applicants may submit up to 10 files sized to a maximum of 2mb each with a maximum of 2 minutes for video file length. 2D, 3D, and 4D work (or a combination) will be considered. Applicants should keep in mind that the grant amount and proposed budget should both total $7,500.

The Current Art Fund will award a total of $60,000 in the form of 8 grants of $7,500 each to Tennessee-based artists.

No, applicants may not submit multiple individual projects.

Yes, prior year grantees may apply if they have taken a gap year off from applying. For example, a 2023 grantee may apply in 2025.

The award should be used to achieve all enumerated project goals as outlined in the applicant’s proposed budget. The budget categories are materials, fabrication, media, photo and video documentation, artist labor or compensation, contracted labor, transportation, advertising, other services, and other expenses. It is not necessary to address every category in your project proposal - only what is applicable to the project.

Yes, we expect you to pay the people involved in your project, including yourself, for their contributions. Yes, as long as the equipment is necessary for the development of your project.

Recipients will be required to send along regular progress updates to Tri-Star Arts to be posted by Tri-Star Arts/ Current Art Fund at our discretion on our website, social media, and more. The frequency of updates will be determined in collaboration with the recipient and the Tri-Star Arts/ Current Art Fund on a project-by-project basis. A final report detailing the outcomes of the project is due by May 30, 2026 at the latest but may be submitted earlier pending project completion. $7,000 will be distributed at the outset of the award. The final $500 of the award amount will be retained until a final report is submitted.

No, we are looking for new projects that can be accomplished within the given timeline. All projects must be completed by May 30, 2026. We cannot accept projects that have already begun or are currently in process. We cannot accept already finished projects that are seeking reimbursement.

A public-facing project is one that actively engages an audience (anticipates an audience) and is accessible to the public.

Yes, Tennessee-based artist collectives may apply. Please keep in mind that all project proposals must be submitted by one individual and, if the proposal comes from a Tennessee-based artist collective, the individual submitting the application must be the project’s point person, designated to receive all communications and funding distribution. If individuals are part of multiple Tennessee-based artist collectives, they may be named (or be the point person) in submissions by multiple Tennessee-based artist collectives, as long as all projects are distinctly different from one another.

No, curators may not apply. Current Art Fund grants are intended for artists to support their own practices/ studio work.