The arts and culture program area centers people, community, and place at the heart of its work. Recognizing that cultural and civic belonging are central drivers for individual and community well-being, we promote and support curiosity and learning, innovative ideas and leadership, cross-sectoral exploration and collaboration, and the pursuit of justice. Grantmaking is focused on increasing access to the arts, arts in education, arts in rural communities, supporting and developing strong organizations and leadership, promoting cultural awareness, and sustaining arts and cultural institutions.
Sample Grants
ArtsBuild supports the creative future of Chattanooga and Hamilton County by investing in arts organizations, arts programs and projects, arts education, and arts advocacy – working to build a stronger community through the arts. The Artists Work Grants program was designed to provide much-needed work and project funding for artists during the Covid pandemic – supporting the local creative economy and producing artworks and experiences in indoor and outdoor public spaces.
Arts-Based Collaborative at UTC
The Arts-Based Collaborative at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
(ABC at UTC) is an affiliate of the nationally renowned Wolf Trap Institute for
Early Learning Through the Arts. Through UTC-Wolf Trap, teaching artists
provide professional learning in arts integration to early childhood educators
through classroom residencies with PreK-1st grade students. The program has
now expanded beyond Hamilton County to support early learning needs in rural schools in Dade and Walker counties in Georgia, and Bledsoe, Marion, McMinn, and Polk counties in Tennessee.
Chattanooga Neighborhood Arts Partnership (CNAP)
Utilizing the arts to improve the quality of life for ALL residents of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, one neighborhood at a time, CNAP provides artists, neighborhood associations, other arts organizations, churches, business, and government with opportunities to connect and grow through such programs as the Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts and Ideas: Juneteenth Independence Day. CFBA&I is a yearly celebration showcasing emerging and established local artists of African descent in the Greater Chattanooga area to encourage new ideas and open dialogue throughout the community.
