ABC Grant
The Arts Build Communities (ABC) Grant is funded by the Tennessee Arts Commission and administered by the Jackson Arts Council for the Southwest District which includes Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, and McNairy Counties.
The ABC grant program is designed to provide support for arts projects that broaden access to arts experiences, address community quality of life issues through the arts, or enhance the sustainability of asset-based cultural enterprises. ABC funds may be used to:
Provide innovative arts experiences that are new or unfamiliar to community residents
Offer arts programs that are designed to help affect positive change in community social issues
Develop arts programming that strengthens social networks through community engagement
Undertake cultural arts initiatives that enhance a community's identity and/or economic development
Offer training that helps experienced or emerging artists/arts administrators develop entrepreneurial skills or innovative strategies for building sustainability
An organization is eligible to apply for funding support of its arts activities if the organization meets one of the following qualifications:
The organization 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. Private educational institutions must be a nonprofit and meet these tax-exempt requirements.
-OR-
The organization is an entity of government (such as city/county government departments, public libraries, public schools, etc.)
2024 ABC Grant Timeline
April 8, 2024 - ABC Applications Open
May 15, 2024 - ABC Grant Workshop via Zoom, 4:00 p.m.
July 1, 2024 - ABC Application Deadline
August, 2024 - ABC Grant Panel Review, 1:00 p.m.
August 16, 2024 - Projects can begin
June 15, 2025 - Projects must be completed
How to Apply:
The guidelines for 2024 are now available online here. The application deadline is July 1, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. All applications must be submitted through the online grant software. Online tutorials on the application process can be found here.
Once your grant activities have concluded, you will be responsible for submitting an acceptable ABC Evaluation. An acceptable ABC Evaluation will show:
progress was made toward achieving project goals
the grant activities were carried out as proposed
the grant funds were spent appropriately and as planned
the public was invited to participate in the project
Tennessee Arts Commission credit and logo requirement was met
Your final grant payment (60%) will be made after your Designated Agency has reviewed and approved your ABC Evaluation.
PLEASE NOTE: Organizations MUST carry out projects as described in the original grant application. However, circumstances beyond your control may arise. If this happens, submit an email to the Designated Agency with a detailed explanation of why you are seeking approval to change the scope of services as outlined in your application or grant contract, what those changes are, and the perceived impact on the project. Be sure to include the grant application or contract number in the email. You will receive an email notification in response to your request.
ABC Grant Resources
For questions, contact the Jackson Arts Council:
Dr. Delita Johnson
Jackson Arts Council Executive Director
(731) 422-1385
You may also contact the Tennessee Arts Commission staff:
Shannon Ford
Director of Community Arts Development
(615) 532-9796
Melissa Moody
Arts Build Communities Coordinator
(615) 253-5133
Lee Baird
Grants Analyst/Director of Literary Arts
(615) 532-0493
The Jackson Arts Council distributes the funds through a formal grant procedure, with arts groups completing the application by a designated time, and an independent panel reviewing and ranking the arts projects for funding.