[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6172822,"mediaKeyId","5386656-a3e88da74fafad5566a6068b2c4ddd22","parentId",5386656,"title","Arts Commission: FY25 grants closed out; staff reports 165 contracts executed, closeout reports due","audioSeconds",184,"startMs",298000,"endMs",482000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386656-a3e88da74fafad5566a6068b2c4ddd22&start=298&end=482","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386656-a3e88da74fafad5566a6068b2c4ddd22/thumbnail_298000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6172822/Tennessee/Arts-Commission-FY25-grants-closed-out-staff-reports-165-contracts-executed-closeout-reports-due","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172822-44320ca7e26ab09bb4fd235be8fbae48/orig.mp4?Expires=1775535784&Signature=L~nJG7wY1l3BnbBlgBDTIlsXtYYoiz3gNhUwOjZRQqsGC8mu8R1kt0FyY5zq2OY17ieGYHX8ImdVSxIPo~Drrcv8z6gGBTyfQ4rLFlTjNImKd35sIRFmx4-XDxTJWcpiEWO6ujUUMqw5iS50xZQcTgbl9ceFgYXF8jc4-GFsSIwsK8XQjOGr-82fGFDOtmIxmvKJH~VzkDnVqx-q8O1HoDcRQq6tCgrKud10V1a6yxOUlWQJ1pczPql9U6ih2snosxNITu8b6m0gVsmh6hyxx2-XrIRuhhwtK84lAW0BFHl00CwWNfVPEY2Ma0JtxVCXEQBiAVA06kQ~otyDg9K8Gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Nashville, TN","date","2025-07-14T20:36:17Z","article","Metro Arts staff told the Arts Commission Grants and Funding Committee on July 14 that all grants authorized for fiscal year 2025 were executed and paid and that grantees’ closeout reports are due the next day.

\"I'm happy the fiscal year is over. And we have all 165 contracts that we did fully execute, complete,\" said Ashley (staff member), reporting to the committee. She said the closeout reports — collected through the Submittable platform — require expenditure summaries and a brief budget narrative.

Why it matters: closeouts document how public funds were spent, provide material for audits and future grant decisions, and generate grantee stories that staff say can be used for advocacy and outreach.

Staff told commissioners the closeout verification process has three outcomes: (1) approved as complete and archived, (2) corrections requested with a due date, or (3) identified as missing with steps described for follow-up. Ashley said staff have worked to make the closeout form simple and available through Submittable and that a virtual help session and one-on-one assistance have supported applicants.

As of a few hours before the meeting, staff reported 41 of 90 operating grantees had submitted closeout reports and 35 of 75 Thrive grantees had submitted theirs; staff said they expect many more to arrive on the filing deadline. The committee packet and staff remarks noted that those counts do not yet represent all grantees and that a fuller summary will appear at the August meeting.

The report also covered grantees funded through a separate conciliation agreement: staff said that closeout is underway for roughly 23 mural projects and 13 micro- and small organizations funded through that process, and that staff are scheduling site visits and check-ins as those projects come to life.

Grantee feedback collected during closeout surfaced recurring concerns. Several respondents asked for clearer guidance about tax implications when individuals receive grant payments or when fiscal sponsors pay individual artists. Ashley said staff are not providing tax advice but are exploring informational workshops and outside partners to answer those questions.

Fiscal sponsorship drew mixed comments. Some grantees described fiscal sponsors as helpful sounding boards; others said sponsorship felt like an extra hurdle. The committee discussed that the criteria approved in the full commission include a $750 administrative payment to fiscal sponsors to cover administrative work; staff said the stipend is meant to reimburse administrative costs rather than serve as an operating grant.

Committee members and staff highlighted timing and payment delays as common sources of frustration. Ashley said some payments were delayed by vendor-registration problems and that staff can better communicate the multi-step disbursement process and be more proactive about vendors’ setups.

Committee members asked staff to categorize feedback in the August report into near-term operational fixes (platform/file-type changes, validation) and longer-term policy questions (allocation size, fiscal-sponsorship approach). Staff said they will produce a summary report with aggregated data and proposed categories at the next grants committee meeting in August.

Ending: staff emphasized closeout is a verification step and an opportunity to learn from grantees; a fuller closeout summary and proposed next steps will be on the committee agenda in August.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","07/14/25 Metro Arts Commission: Grants and Funding Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Metro Arts staff told the Arts Commission Grants and Funding Committee on July 14 that all FY25 grants were executed and paid and that closeout reports are due the following day.","taxTitle","Arts Commission Meetings, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee","taxId",69305,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6172817,"Metro Arts readies FY26 grant cycle: Submittable improvements, outreach schedule and new public information manager",1583,2208000,3791000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386656-a3e88da74fafad5566a6068b2c4ddd22&start=2208&end=3791","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386656-a3e88da74fafad5566a6068b2c4ddd22/thumbnail_2208000.jpg","/articles/6172817/Tennessee/Metro-Arts-readies-FY26-grant-cycle-Submittable-improvements-outreach-schedule-and-new-public-information-manager","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172817-dca53de5a51123e0a77b3653c59dc0be/orig.mp4?Expires=1775535784&Signature=MoMaiRRJoMOMecKWpyvdxhBASADoK9fH47hR0ymhbDvtQpxpenniNopgN-Y-2rw~pb0LZn~~FfRaGhv513VhZ3wmEKjjUO1pi2hM66nMo6oPMFv5EW47Rm2-R0hxU0Y6JI9Ldfj53UkeHXB~43YT4wKsGRbNxWBHkOV3vJS5O1AJE5T8bZ8RO6TI7mxhoxYyXQEpHoJpZi0NkAqxKruUFWdVrHHj9G6yE0rrNdffb6s39J7F0inv-M2yzDqeMG14eEq2lA7T6ULcXsmwDDhx5ud1T8DrOLQpwdUgGj7RnJ8fJovJBovkUv4aIJxRCsYV7bvaU~P0U8gdhTauBuCF6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Metro Arts staff told the Arts Commission Grants and Funding Committee on July 14 that, contingent on council action, the department is prepared to open FY26 Operating and Thrive applications and has updated its application platform and outreach plan.

\"We are prepared to open applications this week if we receive approval tomorrow,\" said Ashley (staff member), explaining the timeline staff included in the committee packet. She described platform changes made in Submittable to reduce errors and improve the applicant experience.

Why it matters: staff say clearer forms, file-type support and more accessible assistance should reduce common errors that delayed awards in the prior cycle and make it easier for individuals and small organizations to apply.

Staff described several specific platform and outreach improvements: required-field indicators and validation on form fields; improved branching logic so applicants see only relevant questions; expanded allowable video and audio file types; and direct links in the application to external documents. Staff said these changes align application questions with the grant guidelines the commission approved.

To increase in-person access, staff outlined a regular schedule of drop-ins, including Friday mornings at the Farmers Market and Monday afternoon sessions at different libraries, plus Microsoft Bookings for 30-minute virtual one-on-ones and weekly community engagement events. Staff identified panel scoring days in September and projected that the commission could approve allocations on Sept. 25 if timeline milestones are met.

The committee also heard that the criteria resolution for FY26 — identified in committee materials as \"Resolution 2025 15 33\" — was scheduled for council consideration the following day; staff said that if council approves the resolution, Metro Arts will open applications the next day. The committee packet included a one-page summary and a cover letter sent to council by the commission chair.

The meeting included a brief staff introduction of the new public information manager. \"My name is Darius Perotti,\" he said, and described prior work in broadcast and nonprofit communications; staff said his presence increases capacity for storytelling and outreach for grantees.

Staff also said they are drafting an audit implementation plan that will include standard operating procedures for grant administration; staff expect the SOP-style deliverable required by the audit to be ready for committee review in August.

Ending: staff emphasized that several dates remain contingent on council approval and that the committee will receive a fuller application and outreach report in August, plus final closeout numbers and preliminary allocation data in September.","Metro Arts staff told the Grants & Funding Committee it is ready to open FY26 applications pending council approval and described platform upgrades, outreach plans and a new public information manager.","actionData","errors"]

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Arts Commission: FY25 grants closed out; staff reports 165 contracts executed, closeout reports due

Metro Arts readies FY26 grant cycle: Submittable improvements, outreach schedule and new public information manager