“Metro Arts” is the office of Arts & Culture for the city of Nashville and Davidson County. We believe that arts drive a more vibrant and equitable community. We strive to ensure that all Nashvillians have access to a creative life through community investments, artist and organizational training, public art and creative placemaking coordination and direct programs that involve residents in all forms of arts and culture.
Grant panelists are vital to the Metro Arts grantmaking process. We are seeking engaged community members to review and score applications for the General Operating Support and Thrive Project programs. Panelists will attend an orientation, complete their reviews independently within an online review system over a two-week period, and attend one full day, in-person review panel. Total estimated time commitment is up to 25 hours. Panelists will receive a $500 stipend.
In addition to having a knowledge of and familiarity with Nashville’s arts and culture community, prospective panelists are likely to have knowledge or experience in one or more of the following areas:
- An artistic discipline being considered for funding (dance, film and media arts, crafts, literary arts, music, performance art, multidisciplinary work, theater and performing arts, visual arts) as a creator, artist, arts educator, administrator, curator, cultural organizer, and/or general supporter;
- Organizational, nonprofit, and/or business management, including but not limited to organizational planning, program administration, marketing, or development and fundraising;
- Creation of grant applications, evaluation of the merits of grant applications, or engagement with similar processes.
You may nominate up to five (5) individuals on this form to serve as a Metro Arts grant panelist (you may complete additional forms if you would like to nominate additional people). Complete this nomination form by providing the nominee(s)'s name(s) and email address(es). Metro Arts will contact individuals who are nominated with information about this opportunity and details about how to apply. Feel free to share this opportunity directly with the person(s) you nominated as well.
Please note that completing this nomination form does not prohibit you from applying to be a panelist yourself.
To see the full guidelines, click here.
Panelists will attend an orientation, complete their reviews independently within an online review system over a two-week period, and attend one full day, in-person review panel. Total estimated time commitment is up to 25 hours. Panelists will receive a $500 stipend.
We strive to form diverse selection panels of individuals who are thoughtful, are willing to listen to others' opinions, have experiences relevant to the funding programs, and have a demonstrated interest in the arts (as a working artist, cultural worker, audience member or participant, advocate, community leader, educator, etc.). Panelists will be selected to represent a variety of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, artistic genres and involvement with the arts. All panelists should have a commitment to supporting and promoting the arts in Davidson County. First-time and returning panelists are welcome to apply.
In addition to having a knowledge of and familiarity with Nashville’s arts and culture community, prospective panelists are likely to have knowledge or experience in one or more of the following areas:
- An artistic discipline being considered for funding (dance, film and media arts, crafts, literary arts, music, performance art, multidisciplinary work, theater and performing arts, visual arts) as a creator, artist, arts educator, administrator, curator, cultural organizer, and/or general supporter;
- Organizational, nonprofit, and/or business management, including but not limited to organizational planning, program administration, marketing, or development and fundraising;
- Creation of grant applications, evaluation of the merits of grant applications, or engagement with similar processes.
This is a paid opportunity to be part of Metro Arts’ grantmaking process. Not all who apply will be selected to serve as a panelist.
To see the full guidelines, please click here.
Operating Support grants provide funding for the general operations of arts-focused nonprofit organizations based in Davidson County. An arts-focused organization is one whose primary mission is to directly support the performance, exhibition, or instruction of art and whose majority of programming supports the performance, exhibition, instruction, creation, or education in the arts. Art refers to several artistic genres including, but not limited to dance, film and media arts, craft, literary arts, music, performance art, multidisciplinary work, theater, or visual arts.
Grant funds may be used to support the general operations of your organization. There are certain things operating support grants cannot be used for: capital improvements, reduction of debts, activities or programs with religious practices or intent, political lobbying, or purchase of real property.
If awarded, the grant period will run from the day your grant contract is signed through June 30, 2027.
Before submitting an application, please review the full guidelines, available on the Metro Arts website.
If you have any questions, please contact us at arts.grants@nashville.gov. We encourage first time applications to contact us before applying. You may also schedule a virtual one-on-one meeting with a member of our staff at this link.
Application deadlines:
- Friday, June 5, 2026, 4:59pm: Optional Preliminary Review Deadline. Submit your application for an early eligibility check and to receive feedback. Submitting by the preliminary deadline allows time for corrections and revisions before the final deadline.
- Friday, June 26, 2026, 4:59pm: Final deadline. All applications must be submitted by the deadline to be considered.
Metro Arts' Thrive grants supports artist-led, community-based art projects in Davidson County. Thrive grants are open to individual artists, nonprofit organizations with lead artists identified, and artist collectives or teams. Thrive is for project-based grants and applicants may request up to $15,000.
Successful proposals will align with Metro Arts’ mission and Thrive goals and objectives by impacting neighborhoods or communities, actively engaging residents through community input in project planning, decision making, and artmaking, and exhibiting and promoting cultural equity in project design, process, and content.
Grant funds may be used for expenses directly related to the proposed project, including but not limited to artist fees, project/program supplies, performance or venue fees, marketing, community engagement, etc. There are certain things Thrive grants cannot be used for, including: general operating expenses of an organization, capital improvements, reduction of debts, activities or programs with religious intent, study or practice, political lobbying, or purchase of real property. Thrive grants may not be used for the creation, installation, or maintenance costs of public artwork.
If awarded, the grant period will run from the day your grant contract is signed through June 30, 2027.
Before submitting an application, please review the full guidelines, available on the Metro Arts website.
If you have any questions, please contact us at arts.grants@nashville.gov.
Application deadlines:
- Friday, June 5, 2026, 4:59pm: Optional Preliminary Review Deadline. Submit your application for an early eligibility check and to receive feedback. Submitting by the preliminary deadline allows time for corrections and revisions before the final deadline.
- Friday, June 26, 2026, 4:59pm: Final deadline. All applications must be submitted by the deadline to be considered.
Metro recently adopted an ordinance and guidelines for the purpose of evaluating potential donated artworks. This policy plans for the fact that there are limited suitable sites on public property for placement of donated artworks and limited public funds for maintenance and conservation of donated artworks. Each artwork will be evaluated by the Public Art Committee and the Metro Arts Commission in addition to the Metro Department accepting the donation.
In order for Metro to evaluate donations, donors are required to provide information about the artwork donation via Submittable at least six (6) months prior to the anticipated donation acceptance date. You may also download the donor checklist/worksheet to assist in the process of gathering information about your artwork.
***PLEASE NOTE** Donations of artwork that require the city to pay for costs such as installation, transportation, site preparation or repair are not encouraged. Artwork requiring high or excessive maintenance may be declined.
Ordinance No. BL2015-1277 "D. Unless the metropolitan council has appropriated funding specifically for the installation and maintenance costs for the donated artwork, a donor’s proposal shall include funding adequate to cover all costs for the design, fabrication, insurance, transportation, storage, installation, and maintenance of the proposed artwork for a period of ten years from the date of acceptance, plus contingency funds for reasonable unforeseen circumstances."
Thank you for your interest in submitting a proposal for Temporary Art on Metro Property in Nashville-Davidson County, TN. To ensure your project is eligible, please read the complete guidelines before proceeding to the application.
Please note that this is not a call to artists and there is no funding associated with this review and approval process. Artists and applicant organizations must work primarily in Davidson County to be eligible to apply.
In order for Metro to evaluate proposals, applicants are required to provide information about the temporary artwork proposal via Submittable at least three (3) months prior to the anticipated installation date. Metro Arts will be reviewing proposals with the Metro department managing the proposed artwork site.
If you experience any technical difficulties submitting your proposal, please contact Submittable's Customer Support team.
For questions regarding the content of the application or the guidelines, please contact Anne-Leslie Owens, Public Art Collections Manager, at Anne-Leslie.Owens@nashville.gov.