Arts funding reaches local classrooms as region gains $858K in grants

Students across Northeast Tennessee are gaining access to arts experiences through thousands of dollars in state-funded education grants. "Arts education plays an important role in preparing students for success in school, work and life," Tennessee Arts Commission Executive Director Anne Pope said. "Research shows that students who participate in arts education experience gains in literacy and math skills, develop stronger problem-solving abilities and are more likely to volunteer and engage in their communities." During fiscal year 2026, the Tennessee Arts Commission awarded 86 grants totaling $858,568 to nonprofit organizations, schools and government entities across eight Northeast Tennessee counties: Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington. Of that funding, 37 grants totaling $98,915 supported arts education and community learning opportunities for youth. Local recipients included Cloudland Elementary School in Carter County, along with Lamar, Ridgeview, Boones Creek, Gray and Grandview schools and University School in Washington County. Several schools received funding through the commission's Student Ticket Subsidy program, which helps cover the cost of arts-related field trips, performances and educational experiences. "Our student ticket subsidy program funds artist fees, tickets, and transportation costs for K-12 Tennessee public schools to take field trips. They often go to music or theater performances, and visit arts and culture museums," Pope said. "We also bring artists into the schools, for residencies or performances." Established by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1967, the commission supports arts and cultural programming through grants to schools, nonprofit organizations and local governments. Pope said the commission awards more than 1,000 grants annually across Tennessee's 95 counties, including programs that reach more than 300 public schools and provide approximately 60,000 students with their first arts experiences each year. The commission receives funding through state appropriations, the National Endowment for the Arts and specialty license plate sales, with the latter accounting for approximately 80% of its grant funding. Of the commission's $16.5 million in funding this year, approximately $12.6 million was awarded through grants, with the remainder supporting other initiatives and operations. Pope said demand for the commission's funding has continued to grow, particularly among organizations and schools seeking support for arts education. "We continue to have significant demand for our funding and, in fact, have more demand than we have available resources," she said. Beyond school programming, the commission supports visual, literary and performing arts, traditional arts apprenticeships, creative aging initiatives and other cultural programs throughout the state. "Arts learning is for all generations, but for youth it helps students become more successful in life, work and their education," Pope said.