OPERATING GRANTS

FY27 Grant Announcements

Metro Arts is preparing to launch the FY27 cycle of General Operating Support and Thrive Project grants. This annual process requires obtaining approval through the Arts Commission and Metro Council. We are planning on seeking those approvals in April and May 2026. All dates are subject to change until this process is completed.

The tentative timeline we are planning around is as follows:

Mid-May 2026: Applications for General Operating Support and Thrive Project grants open. Applications will be open for approximately 6 weeks.

Late August 2026: Funding decisions are made and announced.

Late September-October 2026: Funding is disbursed.

Dates in this timeline are subject to 4-6 week delay if the approval process takes longer than planned. Updates will be available online and shared through the Arts Alert! Newsletter (sign up here to receive updates).

FY27 applications will be updated and adjusted with some new information, but you can review last year’s General Operating Support and Thrive guidelines to learn more about our general grantmaking process.

Please contact us at arts.grants@nashville.gov with any questions or for assistance.

Metro Arts is pleased to announce our FY26 grant recipients!

This cycle covers 165 grants totaling $3,262,593 to support nonprofit arts organizations and artist-led community projects across Davidson County. These awards (79 General Operating Support grants and 86 Thrive project grants) reflect the creativity and resilience of Nashville’s arts community and will help sustain programs, deepen community engagement, and spark new work across 30 council districts. We thank the artists, organizations, review panelists, and community members whose care and commitment shaped this competitive process, and we remain focused on improving access and resources for all who create in Nashville.

Our General Operating Support recipients are available here. The full list of Thrive recipients is available here.

Grant partners: You can find our most-requested forms and reports on our Partner Tools page.

For questions or assistance, please contact Metro Arts staff at Arts.grants@nashville.gov.

We strive to provide individuals with disabilities and all community members with equitable access to Metro Arts opportunities. To request accommodations, please contact Vivian Foxx at 615-862-6730, TTY Relay Service 800-848-0298.