The ArtsZone FY26 grant program, administered by ARTSmemphis in partnership with AutoZone, provides annual funding to support local arts organizations in Memphis, Tennessee. This funding initiative focuses on programming that intersects with AutoZone’s four strategic giving pillars: arts and culture, health and wellness, education and youth development, and community development. The goal is to support projects that provide wide-reaching benefits across the Memphis community through high-quality, arts-based programming.
Funding decisions are made by a grant review panel composed of AutoZone representatives. Eligible applicants must be Shelby County-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with an arts-focused mission and a minimum of three years of programming history. Organizations must also have received at least one grant from any ARTSmemphis program since July 2023. Capital campaigns, festivals, individual artists, applications by fiscal agents, and organizations currently receiving multi-year or other AutoZone funding are not eligible.
The application process begins with a Letter of Intent (LOI), which is due May 9, 2025. Full applications are by invitation only, and those invited must submit by June 13, 2025. A virtual information session will be held on April 23, 2025, and optional virtual office hours will be available weekly from April 23 to May 7, requiring registration. Applicant interviews will be scheduled for July, and award announcements will be made in December 2025. Projects supported by this grant must begin in January 2026 or later.
Applicants are encouraged to request funding for projects expected to impact a large number of individuals and to seek additional support outside of ArtsZone for their proposed initiatives. Awards typically range from $5,000 to $30,000, though there is no official minimum or maximum request limit. Grant applications must be submitted via ARTSmemphis's online platform, and incomplete applications or those submitted late will not be considered.
A LIVEGIVE Midsouth Profile is highly recommended for all applicants. For additional support or to clarify eligibility, applicants are encouraged to contact Nur Abdalla at ARTSmemphis.
