GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

ArtsZone

In partnership with AutoZone, ARTSmemphis administers an annual ArtsZone grant toward local arts organizations’ programs and events across the categories of health & wellness, education & youth development, community development, diversity, equity & inclusion, and general arts & culture.  

Funding is determined by a grant panel composed of AutoZone representatives.

The FY25 ArtsZone grant application has closed.

The timeline for the FY26 ArtsZone grant will be announced in Spring 2025.

  • The timeline for the FY26 ArtsZone grant will be announced in Spring 2025.

  • ArtsZone is open to 501(c)(3) organizations in the Greater Memphis area with an arts focus, a minimum three-year history of presenting quality arts projects, and an active Board of Directors.

    Note: Capital campaigns are not supported through ArtsZone funding. If you are interested in securing support for a capital campaign, please apply through the AutoZone Greater Memphis Area Grant Application.

    If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact Nur Abdalla.

    • 501(c)(3) in the Greater Memphis area with an arts focus.

    • Minimum three-year history of presenting quality arts projects.

    • Active and diverse Board of Directors.

    • Funded programs must be accessible to the entire community regardless of age, creed, disability, gender, marital status, race, religion, sexual orientation or country of origin.

    • Requests may be for program or project support, season sponsorship, or for general operating support.

    There is not a suggested minimum or maximum request amount, but grants typically range from $5,000 to $30,000.

    It is expected that other support apply to your proposed project, so it is not advisable to request a high percentage of the project budget.

    Grant proposals are reviewed by a panel of AutoZone employees and funding decisions are made by this panel.

    Grant awards will be announced in September, so proposed projects should not begin before September 1, 2024. However, if you are requesting operating support, the request may be for the fiscal year that includes Fall 2024, Winter, Spring and/or Summer 2025.

    We strongly encourage you to complete your LIVEGIVE Midsouth Profile before submitting your ArtsZone application. For more information on how to build a LIVEGIVE Midsouth Profile, please click here.

    AutoZone Strategic Pillars

    Health & Wellness

    • Improving health and wellbeing through affordable healthcare options and preventative health care methods

    Education & Youth Development

    • Fostering youth through Cradle-to-Career Education

    Community Development

    • Advancing the Memphis community through placed based development and social services

    Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

    • Highlighting community initiatives that provide diverse and inclusive objectives spaces

    Arts & Culture

    • Ensuring access to the arts and a wide-variety of culture experiences (capital campaign gifts only, refer to ArtsZone Grants for annual arts related grant funding.)

    AutoZone Projects of Importance

    • High importance: Programming

    • Medium importance: General operating support

    • Low importance: Events and sponsorships

    Please note: AutoZone continues to not support event sponsorships for the purpose of fundraising (dinners, luncheons, etc), and they will be highly discouraged in the application process.

  • AngelStreet Memphis | General Operating Support

    Ballet Memphis | Season 38 Support

    Carpenter Art Garden | Art Intervention

    Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre | FY 24-25 Season Support 

    Circuit Playhouse, Inc. | Theatre Education and Outreach Super Sponsorship

    Dixon Gallery and Gardens | Art to Grow

    Germantown Community Theatre l The Full Spectrum Theatre Intiative Programming

    GPAC l FY25 Operating Support

    Hattiloo Theatre | General Operating Support

    Indie Memphis | General Operating Support

    Iris Collective | Iris Collective Community Engagement

    Memphis Jazz Workshop | Winter Jazz Intensive Training Camp

    Music Export Memphis | MEM Preview Parties

    New Ballet Ensemble & School | NutRemix Student Performances 2024

    New Day Children's Theatre | 2024-2025 Season Support: Sensory Friendly Performances and Community Outreach

    Opera Memphis | 30 Days of Opera

    Perfecting Gifts, Inc. | PGI Performing Arts Academy 

    Playback Memphis | “Be the Peace!” in Gestalt Community Schools

    Princeton James Project | Kooler Grandes Camp

    PRIZM Ensemble | Mahogany Chamber Music Series

    Tennessee Shakespeare Company | The Feast of Crispian-South: Memphis Veterans Project

    Theatre Memphis | A Christmas Carol Presenting Sponsorship 2024

    Young Actors Guild | Season 34 Support

  • AngelStreet Memphis | Building Creative Leaders

    Arrow Creative | Creative Entrepreneur Advancement

    Ballet Memphis | Ballet Memphis Season 37

    Carpenter Art Garden | Art Education

    Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group | Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group 2023-24 Season

    Circuit Playhouse, Inc. | Theatre Education and Outreach Super Sponsorship

    Collage Dance Collective | Memphis Dance Festival

    Dixon Gallery and Gardens | Art to Grow van purchase

    GPAC l GPAC Season 29

    Hattiloo Theatre | Sing, Sistah, Sing!

    Indie Memphis |Indie Memphis General Operating Support

    Iris Collective | Iris Collective Community Engagement Programming + Arts Accessibility Ticket Subsidy Sponsorship

    Memphis Jazz Workshop | Memphis Jazz Workshop General Operating Support

    Music Export Memphis | Music Export Memphis General Operating Support

    New Ballet Ensemble & School NutRemix 2023: Performance for Memphis Students

    New Day Children's Theatre | 2023-2024 Production Season Support: Sensory Friendly Performances and Community Outreach

    Opera Memphis | 2023 30 Days of Opera

    Perfecting Gifts, Inc. | Performing Arts Academy /The Singing City

    The Soulsville Foundation, Inc. | Stax Music Academy - The Soulsville Foundation General Operating Support

    Tennessee Shakespeare Company | The Feast of Crispian South - Memphis Veterans’ Project

    Theatre Memphis | Theatre Memphis' A CHRISTMAS CAROL - 46th Annual Production

    Young Actors Guild | Young Actors Guild Performing Arts Academy