Support is available to nonprofit organizations – those not currently receiving operating support from the Commission – and entities of government to engage professional touring artists for performances and educational activities in Tennessee communities. This grant category supports Tennessee presenters by providing grant funds up to $5,000 to offset the costs of professional artist fees for performing artists and groups that present to the public and offer an educational component with their engagement.
Guidelines
Non-matching FY24 Touring Grants are available to nonprofit organizations and entities of government for support to engage professional touring artists for performances and educational activities in Tennessee communities. Touring grants can only be used to support fees for one (1) artist or group per event. Except in unusual circumstances, only one (1) Touring grant will be awarded to any one applicant in a single fiscal year.
Applicants receiving operating support in FY24 through the MCI, PS, SUPS or SRPS categories are ineligible to apply for a Touring grant.
The Tennessee Arts Commission encourages applications from any eligible organization from across the state. Eligible organizations located in distressed, at-risk and rural counties are encouraged to apply. A list of distressed and at-risk counties as designated by ARC for FY24 are available here.
Description
This grant category supports Tennessee presenters by providing grant funds up to $5,000 to offset the costs of professional artist fees for performing artists and groups that present to the public and offer an educational component with their engagement.
Any eligible organization may apply for up to $3,000 of the agreed upon artist’s fees.
If an organization or touring artist being presented meets one of the following criteria, the organization may request up to $5,000 of the agreed upon artist’s fees.
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- Tennessee Resident Artist – Grant funds may be used to pay up to $5,000 of the agreed upon artist’s fees if the artist is a Tennessee Resident. For artists to qualify, at least 50% of the group’s members must have their legal, primary residence in Tennessee.
- Underserved Artist – Grant funds may be used to pay up to $5,000 of the agreed upon artist’s fee if the artist is from an underserved or underrepresented group or self-identifies as a person with a disability, regardless of residency status. For artists to qualify, at least 50% of the group’s members must be from an underserved or underrepresented group or self-identify as persons with disabilities.
- Rural County – Grant funds may be used to pay up to $5,000 of the agreed upon artist’s fee if the applicant organization is incorporated in and the event takes place in one of Tennessee’s Rural Counties.
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Specify in your application narrative which category your organization or government entity is applying for.
Artist fees are private negotiations between presenters and artists and do not involve the Tennessee Arts Commission, however the Commission expects that the negotiated fees reflect the market rate of the contracted artist.
Proof of artist fee is required by providing a signed agreement or letter of intent to hire between the applicant and the artist, detailing the total artist fee and date of service. Grant funds requested and awarded must range from $350 – $5,000.
All Touring grant recipients must be prepared to handle all necessary expenditures up front. Commission funds will be paid as reimbursement to the grantees upon submission and approval of reports and invoices. No Commission funds are available prior to the project or activity.
Contact
Jared Morrison, Director of Performing Arts, 615-532-9801
Organizations:
Unique Entity ID (UEI): All applicants are required to have a Unique Entity ID. Information and application instructions can be found here.
An organization is eligible to apply for funding support if the organization meets one of the following qualifications:
- The applicant is a nonprofit organization legally chartered in Tennessee and has its headquarters and home season, or activities equivalent to a home season for non-producing organizations, 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.
- The organization is an entity of government.
- The organization is not receiving operating support in FY24 through the MCI, PS, SUPS, or SRPS, categories.
Arts organizations that receive revenue directly from a “New Specialty Earmarked Plate” under T.C.A 55-4-301 (a)(1) are ineligible for Commission grant funding.
Maximum Compensation:
The maximum amount of Commission funding artist or artist groups may receive in any fiscal year from Touring grant-supported activities is $15,000.
Inappropriate Activities
The following activities are not eligible for funding:
- Any activity used as a planned fundraising event.
- Any event which is part of a college or university’s curriculum.
- Projects that do not include a public performance component and an additional education/outreach component.
- Applications from producing arts organizations, such as orchestras, theater companies, dance companies, and opera companies requesting fee support for guest artists appearing as part of the organization’s own performance, concert, or production.
- Fees for multiple artists for the same event (i.e. a music festival or other event featuring multiple bands)
- Projects, programs, or other activities deemed inappropriate or otherwise ineligible by the Commission.
Additionally, schools, colleges and universities are eligible only for activities that clearly serve the needs of the surrounding communities or the state and are designed to involve a broad audience. Activities that are credit-producing or are oriented primarily to students and the academic community are not eligible. Schools, colleges, and universities must schedule public performances outside of school hours, and demonstrate that they are open and marketed to the public.
The TN Arts Commission reserves the right to deny or withhold, in whole or in part, public funds for projects, programs, or other activities deemed inappropriate by the Commission, or if the proposed activities purpose is outside of the scope or spirit of this grant program.
- Tennessee State Charter
- IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter
- Most recent copy of the bylaws of the organization
All applicants must also provide at the time of their application:
- A signed contract or letter of agreement with the artist(s) being presented
- Proof of Tennessee residency if the applicant is requesting Tennessee Resident Artist funding
- A copy of the applicant’s Corporation Annual Report from the TN Secretary of State’s office. Use this link to request a “Printer Friendly Version” and upload that PDF to the Organization Card.
- List of Board of Directors. Only nonprofit organizations with 501(c)3 status will be prompted to upload this document. The board list (at the time of application) must include the following:
- Full Name
- Email address
- Number of years on the board
- Length of term(s)
NOTE: Other biographical information about individual board members should NOT be included on this list. Legal requirements state that Commission funds granted to an organization may not be used as a payment of any kind, for any purpose, to members of an organization’s board.
Failure to provide all documentation will result in the application being disqualified.
For further eligibility information, please refer to the Commission’s Legal Requirements.
Except in unusual circumstances, only one (1) Touring grant will be awarded to any one applicant in a single fiscal year.
Affirmative Duty to Report Major Organizational Change
Any grantee shall promptly notify the State in writing of any significant changes in the organization’s structure, leadership or financial circumstances that could affect services provided under the grant contract resulting from this application.
A completed FY24 Title VI training and certification must be completed before any grant funds will be dispersed. Title VI training information can be found at this link.
Note: if you are applying between June 15-30, 2023, FY24 Title VI training and certification form will be due after July 1, 2023 and before your project activity.
All Commission sponsored programs, services and facilities are fully accessible to all Tennessee artists and citizens. Organizations are urged to consider contracting with diverse artists, artists living with disabilities, and/or artists representing Tennessee’s diverse artistic and cultural heritage. No person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion or sex shall be excluded from participation in, or be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subject to discrimination of services, programs and employment provided by the Commission and its contracting agencies. If an individual believes they have been subjected to discrimination, they should contact the Commission’s Director of Arts Access, Kim Johnson (615) 532-9797.
The applicant should have a past record of administrative cooperation and compliance with Commission grant requirements and procedures if Commission funding has previously been awarded.
- The application should be well planned and presented.
- The narrative demonstrates that the project will add value to the organization’s constituents and community. A compelling narrative is a crucial factor in the grant award. The presenter should be prepared to answer the following within the narrative portion of the application:
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- Evidence of the proposed project’s impact upon the intended audience or the community in which the presenter exists (including the introduction of new or untried performing arts events aimed at broadening the audience’s appreciation for a variety of art forms, if applicable).
- Evidence of one or more education/outreach activities (workshops, master classes, lecture-demonstrations, etc.).
- Evidence that the presenter is engaging underserved audiences (including those living in rural communities or isolated settings).
• The appropriate documentation was attached to the application.
This grant can fund contracted professional fees, negotiated between the organization and artist, only. Travel, hotel or food are not options for this grant application.
Matching Requirements
This grant does not require a cash match. However, a copy of a signed agreement or letter of intent to hire between the applicant and the artist, detailing the total artist fee and date of service, is part of the required document section. The Commission will reference the total artist fee on the provided documentation to determine that the requested amount is appropriate for the category.
Review Process
Touring grant applications are reviewed in-house by Commission members and staff. Funding notification will take place via email.
Payment & Close-Out Requirements
Grant funds will be paid as reimbursements after the event. Grantees must submit all required close-out paperwork no later than 30 days after the ending date of the activity. Failure to do so may jeopardize future funding.
- Register to use the Online Grants System. You are strongly advised to register well in advance to the application deadline. Anyone registering close to the deadline date can expect delays in the processing of their grant application.
- Log in to the Online Grants System to complete your “Organization” profile and begin an application for a Touring grant.
- Use the “Organizations” tab on the left-hand menu to ensure that the profile is complete and accurate. This information is as important as the application itself. Incomplete or erroneous data will impact your chances for funding. To edit the profile, click the “Edit” button at the top of the Organization screen.
- Use the “People” tab on the left-hand menu to ensure that your “People” profile is complete and accurate. This information will also be used in the review of the application. To edit the profile, click the “Edit” button at the top of the screen.
- When both your “Organization” and “People” profiles are complete and accurate, select the “Apply for Grants” tab again and choose the Annual Grant application link.
- Complete all of the application fields.
- Create and upload required attachments.
- Submit by at least thirty (30) days prior to the beginning date of the project activity.
NOTE: The forms in this portal do not auto-save. Always click the “Save” button before navigating away from the form you are editing to save your work.
Beware that clicking the back navigation button on your web browser will exit you from the system and you will lose your work.
Association or Connection to Multiple Organizations: If you are associated with more than one organization, the organization that you were originally associated with will prepopulate in the organization name field on any newly opened application. To change to another associated organization, simply delete the prepopulated name and type in the correct organization.
