Twenty-five arts-related organizations in Knox County have been awarded a combined $563,010 in grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission. In addition, three arts fellowships were awarded to individuals.
Becky Massey
This is the first in a series of grants benefitting nonprofit arts organizations in Tennessee. The announcement came from Knox County’s three state senators: Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, Sen. Richard Briggs and Sen. Becky Massey, who chairs the General Assembly’s Arts Caucus.
“Knox County fared very well with these grants,” said Massey. “Arts programs are important to Knoxville’s cultural, economic and educational development. These grants will help continue promoting the community’s rich heritage.”
Major grants include:
- $76,800 to the Knoxville Museum of Art
- $71,000 to the Knoxville Opera
- $84,910 to the Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville and
- $74,900 to the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.
Other recipients include Asian Culture Center, Big Ears Festival, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, Community School of the Arts, Cumberland Communities Communications/WDVX Radio, Dogwood Arts, East Tennessee Community Design Center, Friends of Knox County Public Library, Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation, HoLa Hora Latina, Joy of Music Youth Music School, Jubilee Community Arts, Knoxville Children’s Theatre, Knoxville Handel Society, Tennessee Folklore Society, Tennessee Stage Company, University of Tennessee, YWCA Knoxville, Dragonfly Aerial and Circus Arts Studio, Tennessee Children’s Dance Ensemble and The Muse Knoxville.
Diane Fox, Paul Harrill and Jered Sprecher received arts fellowships.
Other grant opportunities are offered throughout the year for qualifying organizations and individuals, including Arts Education Teacher Incentives and Student Ticket Subsidy. These grants are allocated after being reviewed by citizen advisory panels made up of Tennesseans with expertise in appropriate disciplines and a final review by the full Arts Commission. The Arts Commission will award approximately 1,000 grants during fiscal year 2020, totaling more than $6.5 million.