ArtsBuild celebrates $905,025 invested over 2025-2026 in individual artists and local arts and cultural organizations across Hamilton County. Over the past 12 months, this funding has helped bring 102 artist-led projects to communities across the county while providing critical operating support to 21 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations. Together, these investments are expanding access to the arts, strengthening the creative economy, and enriching the quality of life for residents throughout our region.
These investments are helping bring to life our vision of more arts in more places for more people. Through grantmaking, artist support, arts education, public art, entrepreneurship training, and community-based cultural programming, ArtsBuild continues to strengthen our region through the power of the arts.
This achievement would not be possible without the partnership of our public and private supporters. Public investments in the arts sector serve as critical seed funding that allows ArtsBuild to leverage additional support from foundations, businesses, and individual donors, multiplying the impact of every public dollar invested in the arts.
The impact of these investments extends far beyond the arts sector. According to the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study, Hamilton County's nonprofit arts and culture sector generates more than $191 million in annual economic activity, supports 3,120 jobs, provides more than $122 million in personal income for residents, and generates nearly $3.6 million in local tax revenue each year. The study also found that arts audiences spend more than $97 million annually at local restaurants, shops, hotels, and other businesses while attending arts and cultural events. (Tennessee Arts Commission)
We are especially excited about the slate of America 250 projects that will take place throughout the community over the coming weeks and months. These projects will invite residents to explore, celebrate, and reflect on the stories, people, and events that have shaped our nation and our region as we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States. To learn more, subscribe to our weekly Arts Wire newsletter at artsbuild.com.
Grant funding this year was made possible through the support of the National Endowment for the Arts, Mark Making, Robert Finley Stone Foundation, Tennessee Arts Commission, Footprint Foundation, Lyndhurst Foundation, City of Chattanooga, and the many individual donors whose generosity fuels ArtsBuild's mission.
The impact of these investments is already being felt throughout our community.
"With the support from ArtsBuild, our Cast Iron Storytelling series is able to compensate community participants, create welcoming spaces for connection and dialogue, and continue building programs that strengthen Chattanooga through true, regional stories. Our Volunteer: America 250 event is an opportunity to honor memories and experiences of Chattanoogans for generations to come."— Holly Morse-Ellington, Executive Producer, Next Exit Productions
As we look ahead to a new fiscal year, ArtsBuild remains committed to ensuring that artists, arts organizations, educators, and creative entrepreneurs have the resources they need to thrive. Together, we are building a stronger economy, a richer quality of life, and a more connected community through the arts
