Metro Arts Announces 18 Community Arts Grant Awards

Tennessee Arts Commission’s “Arts Build Communities” Grants

Broaden Access to Arts & Cultural Experiences

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - At their August board meeting, the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission (“Metro Arts”) confirmed the allocation of $51,790 in grants to 18 nonprofit organizations as part of the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Arts Build Communities (ABC) program. Funded by the Tennessee General Assembly, ABC is administered in cooperation with the Tennessee Arts Commission and designated agencies throughout Tennessee. Metro Arts administers up to $3500 per organization to foster community-focused arts projects in Davidson County, allocating a total of $51,790 based on each successful applicant’s panel rating.

“We’re grateful for this long-standing partnership with the Tennessee Arts Commission,” said Metro Arts Executive Director Daniel Singh. “Arts Build Communities is one more program that broadens access to a creative life for every Nashvillian and strengthens the sustainability of asset-based cultural experiences. Congratulations to this year’s recipients! We look forward to your community-centered projects and initiatives.”

Metro Arts welcomes and celebrates first-time recipients of the ABC grant:

1. Claiborne Family of Faith Worship Center, “Athens of the South” - The creation of a mural by artist Charles “Jamersonsgc” Key for the JC Napier neighborhood. $2,900

2. Defy Film Festival - Administrative support for festival. $2,500

3. Elmahaba Center, “Arab Artist Exhibit” - Hosting the first Arab artist exhibit in Nashville with 5-10 local photographers, calligraphists, poets, designers, filmmakers, and iconographers. $3,100

4. Friends of Metro Dance, “Animata Arts” - Artist residencies resulting in the creation of new works of art featured at the Centennial Performing Arts Studio for dance. $2,500

5. Japan-America Society of Tennessee, “2023 Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival” – A unique event featuring multiple artists performances at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. $3,200

Metro Arts also recognizes these returning ABC grant award recipients for their continued commitment to the Nashville community:

1. Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville, “Arts Build Communities in May” – Performance and visual arts activities during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. $2900

2. Conexión Américas, “Then and Now: 20 Años Después” - A community-centered photography project featuring immigrants 20 years after settling in Nashville. $3,300

3. DancEast Collective Youth – An affordable and intensive dance program with ten teaching artists mentoring thirty youths ages 8-19. $2,700

4. Intersection, “Innovative Collaborative Opportunities for Intersection Musicians and Southern Word Youth Artists” - A mentoring collaboration using literary and performing arts to create new works of art. $1,700

5. Numinous Flux Dance Company, “River Project Artist and Material Support” - Three open dance workshops surrounding the creative process, held at Artistry in Motion Dance Center in Hermitage TN. $2,900

6. Porch Writers' Collective, “The Porch Presents Ada Limon” - Artist fees for poet Ada Limon presenting a free public reading and craft lecture. $3,000

7. Rejoice Ministries, Inc., “Read to Me, Dance with Me” Dance and Literacy Arts Outreach Pilot Program – A community outreach program providing series of ten pilot dance and literacy-focused events for young children and families. $3,500

8. Tennessee Youth Symphony Ambassadors – The creation of small youth ensembles for outreach activities. $1790

9. Theater Bug, “The Playground: Youth Playwright Production ‘My Favorite Season’” - The theatrical presentation of an original script by 17-year-old playwright Liliana Gomez. $3,000

10. Turnip Green Creative Reuse, “Green Gallery Artist Residency” – A collection of artists developed projects culminating into a group exhibit. $3,200

11. Unscripted, “Improv Your Customer Service” – Developed with community partners at Jefferson Street United Merchant Partnership (JUMP), Unscripted will offer improv theatre workshops in a unique community setting. $3,200

12. Vanderbilt University, “Vanderbilt University Divinity School Black History Month Art Exhibition with Elisheba Mrozik” – In recognition of Black history month, Vanderbilt will host an artist exhibition, art making and meditation activity. $3,100

13. Verge Theater Company, “The Black Future Project” - A multifaceted community-based program including a teen writing workshop, staged reading, and a documentary screening with a block party. $3,300

Learn more about the ABC grant program at the Tennessee Arts Commission website, and view a complete list of Davidson County ABC Grant recipients at the Grants page of the Metro Arts website.

About Metro Arts

Metro Arts is the Nashville Office of Arts + Culture. Our mission is to drive a vibrant and equitable community through the arts. Metro Arts strives to ensure that all Nashvillians have access to a creative life, and we work toward this goal through community investments, artist and organizational training, public art and creative placemaking, and direct programs involving residents in all forms of arts and culture. Metro Arts receives operational support from the Tennessee Arts Commission, and additional information is available online at MetroArtsNashville.com