The Metro Nashville Arts Commission believes in the power of the arts to co-create a more vibrant and equitable community. Metro Arts' Thrive funds connects artists and organizations with the community to create neighborhood investments and transformations.
Thrive Community-Based Projects support artist-led, community-based art projects that include collaboration between artists and community partners and organizations. This category is open to individual artists, artist teams, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations.
Thrive Artist Incubator Projects focus on artists who are newer to community practice and/or Metro Arts funding and are looking to bring their artistic skills to their community. Projects include collaboration between artists and community partners or organizations. This cycle prioritizes artists who have not previously received Thrive funds and includes mentoring and professional development workshops.
“These awards support individuals in 23 Metro Council districts, seeding the ecosystem for a diverse and rich group of artists and arts organization,” said Daniel Singh, Metro Arts Executive Director. “These projects focus on joy and community-building through the arts. We are so grateful for the work of these transformational artists and are committed to continuing this investment in our community.”
Metro Arts congratulates the following recipients for the upcoming cycle of Thrive funding (awards range from $2500-$9500):
- Art is Healing: Christina Barclay (Jeni Calhoun), Lead Artist
- The Free Flow of Creativity Project: Thandiwe Shiphrah (Kim Arite), Lead Artist
- Gilda’s Club Expressive Arts Cancer Support Program: Jennifer Wilkins, Lead Artist
- Homestyle Bakery Public Art Mural: Brian Tull, Lead Artist
- The Key: The Awakening: Jade Alexandria Daniels, Lead Artist
- Letter Perch: Danielle Myers, Lead Artist
- Metanoia: Changing The State of Mind: Cameron L. Mitchell, Lead Artist
- The Museum of Presence: Shabazz Larkin, Lead Artist
- Music City Messiah Festival: Francis Perry, Lead Artist
- Nashville Design Week Community Art Project: Ava Allen, Lead Artist
- Pike Project Poetry Billboard 3 – Downtown Nashville: Joe Nolan, Lead Artist
- Reality Abstracted: Amanda Reichert, Lead Artist
- Reigniting African Dance & Drum in Nashville: Karen Roberts, Lead Artist
- Revived Expression: Unearthing the Inner Creative: Ashley Mintz, Lead Artist
- Shine and Rise – Senior Portraits Class of ’23: Donna Moffitt, Lead Artist
- Songs from My Childhood: Stories of Musical Inspiration: Rachel Rodriguez, Lead Artist
- Verge Theater’s THE BEST GAME: Alicia Haymer, Lead Artist
- Visionary Vocal Collaborative: Sangeetha Ekambaram, Lead Artist
- Vol. 1: Tony Williams II, Lead Artist
- William Edmondson Arts & Cultural Festival: Mark Schlicher, Lead Artist
- Youth Wind Symphony: Bruce Ayers, Lead Artist
- The Zoo Bridge Mural: Stephen Sloan, Lead Artist
Learn more about all funded projects here on the Metro Arts website.