ARTSMEMPHIS RECEIVES NATIONAL FUNDING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO MEMPHIS ARTS NONPROFITS

New investments will include technology solutions, capacity building, and professional development to enable operational and creative growth for arts organizations

MEMPHIS, TN—ARTSmemphis, the Mid-South's primary arts funder, is pleased to announce its receipt of a new $50,000 award by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to provide capacity building  grants to Memphis arts organizations.

“We are thrilled to provide further individualized support for ARTSmemphis Operating Support grantees to address their priority needs in order to better serve and impact our community,” said ARTSmemphis President & CEO Elizabeth Rouse.

This funding is designed to enable multiple facets of operational and creative growth, such as: investment in technology solutions to improve operations, programs, marketing, or development; one-time capacity building needs to help build infrastructure; and support for professional development to enable organizations to invest in their teams.

“After meeting with our grantees before the holidays, trending growth opportunities among our local arts organizations are clear, and we are excited that these NEA dollars can help address those needs directly,” said ARTSmemphis COO Tracy Lauritzen-Wright. “Our grantees have identified clear pathways for 2025 improvement, and we are ready to step in with the dollars to make them possible and, as a result, better serve the Memphis community.”

Priority will be given to ARTSmemphis’ Operating Support grantee arts organizations with budgets under $500,000 and those that are led by or prioritize people of color.

“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative impact taking place, including through ARTSmemphis.”

For more information, visit artsmemphis.org.

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