Investing in Tennessee Grant Awards Announced
Wednesday, July 08, 2009 | 07:18am
Funds will Help Preserve Jobs in Tennessee's Nonprofit Arts Industry
NASHVILLE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen and the Tennessee Arts Commission have announced the recipients of Investing in Tennessee (IIT) grant awards. These funds provide federal assistance for the sole purpose of protecting and preserving jobs in the nonprofit arts sector that are threatened by the current economic downturn. The funds are available as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), through the National Endowment for the Arts and the Southern Arts Federation. According to Gov. Bredesen, 13 Tennessee arts organizations will receive a total of $326,550 in IIT funds.
“Tennesseans value the arts, not only for personal enrichment and a better quality of life, but also for the economic impact they bring to communities across the state,” said Gov. Bredesen. “Like many other segments of our economy, the arts have struggled during these tough economic times. These grants will allow us to speed economic recovery by saving jobs, including jobs in our highly-regarded arts industry where Tennesseans make immeasurable contributions to their communities, our children’s education, and our state’s culture.”
According to Rich Boyd, executive director of the Tennessee Arts Commission, organizations that had previously received funding from the Commission in the current and past two fiscal years in the Major Cultural Institution (MCI) and General Operating Support (GOS) grant categories, and with the administrative staff to comply with the strict reporting standards, were eligible to apply. The Commission received 48 applications.
“We are pleased to make this one-time opportunity available to our arts organizations across the state, and look forward to the positive impact these funds will have on the economic vitality of our communities,” said Boyd.
Organizations receiving IIT grant awards include:
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Johnson City Area Arts Council
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Johnson City
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$28,000
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Jackson Foundation dba The Renaissance Center
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Dickson
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$26,750
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Arts and Education Council
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Chattanooga
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$26,000
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Association of Visual Artists
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Chattanooga
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$26,000
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Knoxville Museum of Art
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Knoxville
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$25,500
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Theatre Memphis
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Memphis
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$25,500
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Jackson Arts Council
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Jackson
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$18,800
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Nashville Shakespeare Festival
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Nashville
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$25,000
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Country Music Foundation, Inc.
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Nashville
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$25,000
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Memphis Black Arts Alliance, Inc.
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Memphis
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$25,000
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Hunter Museum of American Art
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Chattanooga
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$25,000
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Nashville Children’s Theatre
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Nashville
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$25,000
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Knoxville Opera
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Knoxville
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$25,000
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The funds are to be used specifically for jobs preservation. Threatened positions may include full-time permanent staff or contracted artists, technicians, or part-time staff whose elimination impedes the organization from fulfilling its mission. Organizations may also use funding to re-contract with performing groups or exhibiting artists who were canceled due to the economic downturn.
About the Tennessee Arts Commission
The Tennessee Arts Commission is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences that add value to the lives of every citizen, and enhances the quality of life in Tennessee communities.
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Media contact:
Dennis Adkins
615-532-2779
dennis.adkins@tn.gov