First Horizon Celebrates a Decade of Local Arts Investments Totaling $4.7 Million
Foundation announces its tenth year of ArtsFirst and a major investment to support recovery in the arts community
MEMPHIS—Tuesday, April 12, 2022—Today, First Horizon Foundation has announced its 2022 grant recipients, commemorating the tenth anniversary of its ArtsFirst Grant initiative, a program in partnership with ArtsMemphis to promote excellence and enrichment in the arts in Memphis.
Established in 2012, ArtsFirst grants serve as a core vehicle for First Horizon Foundation’s Arts & Culture pillar and, over the past decade, the foundation has contributed over $4.7 million to the arts. First Horizon’s 2022 ArtsFirst funding totals $650,000—its largest annual contribution yet—toward twelve nonprofits including ArtsMemphis.
“We are proud to remain a longtime, significant local arts contributor and are grateful to leverage ArtsMemphis’ grantmaking expertise to ensure meaningful impact on both our artists and community at large,” said Bo Allen, Regional President of First Horizon. “The creativity and resilience of our arts organizations deserve to not only be recognized but consistently supported. We applaud and celebrate the diversity, depth, and fortitude of our local arts sector.”
“The vibrancy and growth of the arts across our community would not be possible without corporate generosity,” said Elizabeth Rouse, President and CEO of ArtsMemphis. “First Horizon Foundation’s leadership and support of ArtsMemphis and arts organizations have been transformative. We are honored to celebrate ten years of the ArtsFirst program and appreciate their continued investment.”
This year’s ArtsFirst grant recipients and accompanying programs were selected by a grant panel composed of First Horizon Foundation representatives. First Horizon is funding a variety of programs and initiatives, including capital campaigns, first-time outreach programs, as well as continued contributions due to grantees’ compounding success via ArtsFirst dollars, including TONE’s second-annual Juneteenth celebration and Overton Park Shell programming.
In addition to grantee support, First Horizon has continued its direct support of ArtsMemphis and provided a major gift to help arts organizations recover from pandemic impacts.
2022 ArtsFirst Grants:
Ballet Memphis | Fall Season Opening Performance
Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group | October 2022 Dia de los Muertos Events
Dixon Gallery & Gardens | Doris Lee Exhibition
Hattiloo Theatre | 16th Season Artist Support
Metal Museum | Reigniting the Fire: Creating a Metal Arts Center in Overton Park
New Ballet Ensemble & School | NutRemix Performance for Schools
Orpheum Theatre Group | Orpheum Soiree to support the Orpheum's Education and Community Engagement Programs
Overton Park Shell | Shells on Wheels Mobile-stage based outreach program
Tennessee Shakespeare Company | 15th Season, including programs for youth and veterans
Theatre Memphis | 101st Season
TONE | 2nd Annual Juneteenth Family Reunion Weekend
Learn more at artsmemphis.org/artsfirst.
ABOUT ARTSMEMPHIS. ArtsMemphis, the Mid-South’s primary arts funder, invested $2.2 million in 64 arts groups and hundreds of artists in 2021. ArtsMemphis works to sustain Memphis’ world-renowned cultural vitality and strengthen local communities through the arts by driving arts support and investing in organizations and artists. Learn more at artsmemphis.org and view the 2021 Impact Report here.
ABOUT FIRST HORIZON FOUNDATION. First Horizon Foundation is the private charitable foundation of First Horizon National Corporation. Founded in 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $125 million to meet community needs. Grants from the Foundation support the following impact areas: Arts & Culture, Education & Leadership, Environment, Financial Literacy, and Health & Human Services. More information is available at firsthorizonfoundation.com.