Current Art Fund Project-Based Grants

The Current Art Fund is an annual granting initiative organized and administered by Tri-Star Arts in partnership with The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts through its Regional Regranting Program. Tri-Star Arts is dedicated to promoting and cultivating the contemporary visual arts landscape across Tennessee. This fund supports independent, non-traditional, public-facing projects developed by visual artists and artist collectives residing in the state. The overarching goal is to foster a vibrant contemporary visual arts community statewide, with special encouragement for BIPOC and AAPI artists to apply. In 2025, the fund will distribute a total of $60,000, awarding $7,500 each to eight selected Tennessee-based contemporary visual artists or collectives. Projects may include 2-D, 3-D, and 4-D work or combinations thereof, and must be newly proposed (not in-progress or completed). A four-person jury of nationally recognized artists and arts professionals will evaluate the proposals. The jury includes Brandon J. Donahue-Shipp, Nelson Gutierrez, Audrey Molloy, and Katherine Ryckman Siegwarth. Awards will prioritize geographic diversity across Tennessee and innovation in audience engagement and visual presentation. Applicants must be 21 years or older and have a permanent Tennessee residence. Applications will be accepted from June 2 to August 30, 2025. The online application requires a project title, artist bio, short and long project descriptions, audience description, proposed timeline, supporting links, a budget using the provided template, and up to 10 media files. Projects must be completed by May 30, 2026, and no application fee is required. Applicants may not submit multiple projects. Former grantees may reapply only after taking a gap year. Funds may be used for materials, fabrication, documentation, artist and contracted labor, equipment essential to the project, transportation, advertising, and related services. A total of $7,000 will be awarded upfront, with the final $500 disbursed upon submission of a final report. Q&A sessions will be held across Tennessee in cities including Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and virtually. Applicants requiring assistance may submit by mail or email and may request language accommodations. Submissions are handled via the Submittable platform, and assistance is available for technical issues. For further inquiries, applicants may contact info@tristararts.org.

Submit new, innovative, public-facing projects; geographic representation across Tennessee is important; ensure alignment with budget and goals; include extensive support materials.