Council approves Metro Arts grant criteria after commission and council amendments

The Metropolitan Council on Jan. 21 approved Resolution 2025-961, which adopts operating-support and Thrive grant criteria for the Metro Nashville Arts Commission and increases the share of funding directed to Thrive grants.

Heather Lefkowitz and Tim Jester, both Metro Arts commissioners, addressed the council in public comment in support of the resolution and described the commission’s work to stabilize grant processes after staff and leadership turnover. “I chair the grants committee for the Arts Commission…we’re shifting, really towards more equitable funding, and we are committed to that,” Lefkowitz said.

Council budget and arts committee members discussed timing and administrative details. The council adopted an amendment to the resolution (details in committee) and approved the measure as amended. Budget Chair Porterfield said the amendment changes the attachment that contains the grant criteria and that approving the resolution now lets selected grant recipients begin to spend funds effective immediately. Porterfield also said staff will seek another legislative item to extend the spending window to June 30 to provide additional time for recipients to use awarded funds.

Council members emphasized that grants must be administered through nonprofits (fiscal sponsors) rather than as direct individual payments, and staff described outreach to help artists identify fiscal sponsors. The resolution does not itself appropriate outside funds; it establishes the named criteria and authorizes the commission to implement the grant awards under those criteria.

The measure passed after committee consideration and was approved on the council floor with the amendment in place. Council members said approving the criteria promptly will permit the commission to begin disbursing approved grants for the current fiscal cycle.