NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ed Gerace, chair of the Tennessee Arts Commission, has announced grants awarded to local organizations for Fiscal Year 2008 (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008).
Tennessee Arts Commission grants are made possible through an appropriation of state funds by the General Assembly, federal dollars from the National Endowment for the Arts, and Tennesseans who purchase specialty license plates.
"The state is indeed fortunate to have elected leaders who support the work of the Tennessee Arts Commission in building better communities through the arts," said Gerace.
According to Gerace, the Commission will award more than 850 grants during Fiscal Year 2008, totaling more than $6.5 million dollars. These funds have a direct impact on communities across Tennessee, in both urban and rural areas. Grant categories include: Arts Build Communities, Arts: Advancement and Expansion, Arts Education, Arts Project Support, General Operating Support, Individual Artist Fellowships, Major Cultural Institutions, Rural Arts Project Support, Student Ticket Subsidy, Technical Assistance, Touring, Special Opportunities, and Professional Development Support.
The Commission's allocation process involves a review by citizen advisory panels made up of Tennesseans with expertise in appropriate arts disciplines, and a review by the full 15-member Tennessee Arts Commission.
"We were pleased with the amount of funding available to our grantees, and we are very grateful to Governor Bredesen and the General Assembly for recognizing the importance of the arts to all Tennesseans," said Gerace.
Gerace also said, "$4.7 million of the Commission's grant funding is made possible through the sale of specialty and collegiate license plates which Tennesseans voluntarily purchase each year."
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 enhance the quality of life in Tennessee communities.