ArtsBuild's mission is to build stronger communities through the arts.

ArtsBuild Seeks Grant Reviewers for Three Grant Programs

ArtsBuild has launched three new grant programs: Community Cultural Connections, Artists Work, and Access & Opportunity. Funding runs August/September 2025 through December 2025.

ArtsBuild is seeking grant reviewers for these programs. The following link provides details: Being an ArtsBuild Grant Reviewer. If you have questions, please reach out to Melissa Astin at melissa@artsbuild.com.

Applications Open NOW for Three New ArtsBuild Grants!

ArtsBuild is excited to announce three grant opportunities designed to uplift emerging and established artists and nonprofit organizations serving residents in Hamilton County. With support from ArtsBuild individual donors, the City of Chattanooga, local foundations, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Tennessee Arts Commission, these grant programs underscores ArtsBuild’s ongoing commitment of advancing equity, expanding access, and strengthening communities through the arts.

Applications are now open for the following grant opportunities:

ACCESS & OPPORTUNITY GRANT

This grant seeks to fund projects that increase access to arts and culture created by diverse artists who are reflective of the Hamilton County community.

The goals of the program include:

Supporting both emerging and established artists from underrepresented backgrounds
Creating access to resources for artists who have been historically underfunded
Broadening the types of artists supported in the community
Promoting equitable distribution of funding and capacity-building resources

Funding: Up to $5,000

Eligibility:

Emerging or established artists who are veterans, 18 or older, and living in Hamilton County.
Artists whose work engages veterans and/or their families.

ARTISTS WORK GRANT

This grant provides project funding to individual artists or groups of artists to create artworks that culminate in an exhibit or performance within Hamilton County. Artists may collaborate with nonprofit arts and community organizations.

The goals of this program are to:

Support public performances or exhibitions that are free and open to the community.
Animate public spaces and enhance the creative identity of Hamilton County.
Engage underserved populations through shared artistic experiences.
Strengthen the local creative economy through project-related spending.

Funding: Up to $5,000

Eligibility:

Individual artists or groups of artists residing in or adjacent to Hamilton County.
Projects must take place within Hamilton County.
Nonprofits must apply in partnership with a lead artist.

COMMUNITY CULTURAL CONNECTIONS (CCC) GRANT

The Community Cultural Connections (CCC) Grant is focused on making arts and culture more accessible to underserved populations in Hamilton County — particularly those underrepresented by geography, ethnicity, age, or disability.

This initiative encourages inclusive engagement through:

New and diverse arts experiences
Community-building and unity through the arts
Economic impact through local arts and culture projects

Funding: Up to $2,000

Eligibility:

Nonprofit organizations 501(c)(3) with an active Unique Entity ID
All projects must take place in Hamilton County

“These grant opportunities reflect ArtsBuild’s mission to build a stronger communities through the arts,” said Melissa Astin, Director of Grants & Community Engagement. “We are honored to help amplify the voices of local artists and organizations whose work brings people together and reflects Hamilton County’s rich diversity.”

Applications for all three grants are now open. For more information, visit ArtsBuild grantmaking page at www.artsbuild.org or contact Melissa Astin at (423) 777-4214.

Kelle Jolly will host a Meet the Author event this Sunday, July 20th, 4 - 6 pm at And Then Books! Kelle is an "Affrilachian-Georgia-lina-Peach," embracing a rich blend of cultural influences. Through the art of storytelling and her mastery of the ukulele, she joyfully expresses her folk traditions. Kelle is a firm believer in the power of bringing together like-minded individuals to foster resilient communities. Her heart lies in the Appalachian region, which she proudly calls home.

Join Kelle on Sunday, July 20, for a book signing at And Then Books (400 Spring St., Rossville, GA) for her new book, Lady Fay Ukulele!

About the book: When three friends go to the museum for the unveiling of their favorite artists' ukulele, they hear a story about her they've never heard before. Margo, the host of the event, shows one of Lady Fay's ukuleles and invites the audience to hear more about Lady Fay Ukulele and her very special pen. When that pen goes missing, Lady Fay turns to an old friend for answers. This folktale retelling will remind readers the importance of forgiveness and friendship.

Meet Bestselling Author LaDarrion Williams at Coolidge Park!

Join us for an inspiring afternoon STARTING AT 4PM with New York Times bestselling author LaDarrion Williams as he stops in Chattanooga on his national Bones at the Crossroads book tour!

Come experience an afternoon of diverse stories, connection, and community at Reading in the Park, a free citywide event celebrating the joy of reading across all ages.

Join us Thursday, July 31st from 2:30PM to 5:30PM at Coolidge Park for a vibrant gathering filled with diverse books, local authors, interactive activities, and opportunities to simply slow down and read together.

This special event is proudly presented by RISE Chattanooga, with support from The Book & Cover, Chattanooga Public Library, ArtsBuild, and the City of Chattanooga's Department of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy. As part of RISE Chattanooga’s Reading in Color Initiative, this event celebrates the power of culturally relevant literature and aims to expand access to diverse stories.

The first fifty attendees to register AND attend will receive a free book and everyone will enjoy a moderated Q&A with the author, an engaging conversation about his writing journey and literary influences, and a chance to get their books signed. Whether you're a fan of Blood at the Root, eagerly awaiting Bones at the Crossroads, or discovering LaDarrion Williams for the first time, this is a moment you won’t want to miss!

Upcoming Events at Songbirds

Songbirds Summer Market

Saturday, July 19

12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Summertime is around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with another seasonal artisan market?! We had such a blast this spring, we're stoked to host another. We are so excited to see what goodies these vendors will be bringing to their booths! Click here for more information.

Pinch Hitter

Saturday, July 19

8:00 - 9:30 p.m.

Chattanooga band, Pinch Hitter, is celebrating their latest album release for Songs From My Big Brain—come party with us! Pinch Hitter is the indie rock vehicle for songwriter Spencer Clayton Blake, a middle Tennessee native who has spent the past five years immersing himself in the Chattanooga music scene. This new album explores various eras of rock & blues and stretches the limits of the band’s sound. For more information, click here.

Drink and Discover: Wild West

at the CDM

Drink and Discover: Wild West

Ready to saddle up for a night of fun? Join us at CDM on Friday, July 25 from 7:00 –10:00 p.m. as we bring the spirit of the American frontier to life! Whether you’ve always wanted to try your hand at two-stepping, take on a mechanical bull, or just kick back in the saloon with a sip of Chattanooga Whiskey, there’s something for everyone. Test your aim at the slingshot gallery, toast marshmallows by an open fire, and enjoy plenty of surprises along the way! This event is 21+, IDs will be required for entry. Click here to purchase tickets.

Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment Grant Applications

Now Open

The Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment program will award grants of $1,000–$5,000 to individual craft artists to purchase artistic tools and equipment that support their ability to make object-based work. This program is open to individual craft artists, folk and traditional artists, and craftspeople in the United States and its Territories, with geographic eligibility rotating over the 2024–2026 funding cycle.

Competitive applicants will present a clear request, demonstrate a sustained commitment to their discipline, and illustrate how funding will provide linchpin support – such as enabling the artist to get started in their field, meet demand, address safety requirements or other regulations, replace outdated or damaged equipment, or reach a higher standard of quality or craftsmanship. In other words, funding will support craft artists’ careers and their ability to make work. A total of $60,000 is available in the 2025 funding round.

Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment is administered by the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), a trusted intermediary focused on the economic security of individuals in the arts, with funding support provided by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.

Heritage House to Host a Cinematic Salute to "Grumpy Harry" in July

You might know him as one of the Top 10 action stars of all time – a worldwide box office juggernaut affiliated with two key movie franchises. (We Chattanoogans know him as the guy who slid into our own Engel Stadium's home base back in 2012 to make a now-acclaimed baseball biopic.)

Heritage House will be screening a few of his 'Greatest Hits' in honor of his July 13th birthday & legacy:

• THRILLER: July 17th – The acting deputy of the CIA becomes entangled in an unauthorized backstage drug war in South America and must find the person ultimately responsible.

• DRAMA: July 24th – Fed up with American consumerism, a gifted inventor uproots his family to build a utopia from scratch in the heart of the Amazon jungle.

• ADVENTURE: July 31st – The search for an MIA father and Christ's cup from The Last Supper takes our intrepid fedora-clad adventurer from Venice to Austria, Berlin, and ultimately the Republic of Hatay – final resting place of the Holy Grail.

Heritage House doors open at 6:00 p.m. for coffee & conversation, and the feature begins at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free, and a lively Q&A usually follows the screening. For questions or more information, please call (423) 643-7009 or email heritagehouse@chattanooga.gov.

Singing for Change Series

All are warmly invited to this Community Singing experience where we will share songs about and for the changes we long for, personally and collectively. First session is free, so bring a friend and check out this supportive environment where every voice is welcome, no formal musical experience is required, and together we can create melodies and harmonies that uplift our spirits! For more information and to register, call (423) 718-8954 or visit ChattaSings online.

National Philanthropy Day 2025 Nominations Due July 18

Do you know a donor or sponsor who is significantly impacting your nonprofit and community? Is there a fundraising professional who goes above and beyond to support your organization? If so, consider nominating them for the 2025 National Philanthropy Day Award! This is an excellent opportunity to recognize and appreciate your supporters and team.

Several award categories are available, and nominations are due by Friday, July 18! To nominate someone or an organization please click here. Save the Date for National Philanthropy Day Celebration on Thursday, November 13 at Chattanooga Whiskey.

The Why Caged Birds Sing Art Show

The Why Caged Birds Sing Art Show, produced by Ravenoakart and La Paz, will be held on Saturday, July 19 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at La Paz. It will feature a wide array of artwork based on generating hope through dark times, and all work is produced by artists in the surrounding area. There will also be free entry, food and drinks, and a live art auction. We look forward to seeing you showing why caged birds sing! Contact ravenoakart@yahoo.com for more information.

Creative Exchange

at The Bohemian Village

Saturday, July 19

Creative Exchange is an Afro-centric space for creative expression that offers opportunities for witnessing and/or participation. This event will feature live performances by local artists, a community canvas for group painting, a crotchet station, games, and more. Come prepared to kick back and relax in a creative way. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Show starts at 8:00 p.m.

Hosted by:

P'Calu

Featured Performers and Facilitators:

Karla Felecia Scaife

Luke Simmons

Tyler Andrew Lackey

The Baking Bassist

MonaLisa the Poet

Rich Risin

Ez-k

JTRAFL

and more

Click here to purchase tickets.

Sneaker Exhibit at the Museum & Cultural Center at 5ive Points

Sneakers have been around since the late 1800s and have totally become a staple in our sports gear. But how did they go from just being something you wear for sports to a fashion essential? What part did music and art play in this sneaker revolution? And how did they turn into their own cool sub-culture? Dive in and discover how footwear, sports, fashion, music, art, and culture all mix together to create the awesome sneakerhead scene.

Check out Sneakerhead: Rise of the Sneaker, a fresh exhibit at the Museum & Cultural Center at 5ive Points in Cleveland running until Saturday, August 30. The museum's free and open to everyone, Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Want to take it up a notch? They offer guided tours and field trips for just $2.50 a person. Hit up Adam Romano at aromano@museumcenter.org for more info about the tours.

For more details, swing by museumcenter.org. See ya there!

Two Mountains Fine Art Show

Current Art Fund

Application Deadline is August 30th

The Current Art Fund granting program is organized and administered by Tri-Star Arts as a partner in the Regional Regranting Program of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. The Current Art Fund seeks to support visual artists and artist collectives in creating independent, non-traditional, public-facing projects that contribute to the rich dialogue within contemporary visual art scenes across the state of Tennessee.

Our 2025 granting cycle will award project-based grants to fund artists’ innovative contributions to the visual arts conversation in Tennessee. The Current Art Fund will distribute grants of $7,500 each to 8 Tennessee-based contemporary visual artists and artist collectives, selected by a 4-person jury panel, to use towards the realization of a dynamic and accessible project. The online application is open through Saturday, August 30. Click here for more information.

To learn more about ArtsBuild and how you can support the arts in Chattanooga and Hamilton County, visit ArtsBuild.com.

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Periscope CHA

Applications Open

ArtsBuild has opened applications for Periscope CHA’s 2025/26 Cohort. Periscope is an artist entrepreneur training program. Participants go through a yearlong intensive to develop their creative business. ArtsBuild’s goals for the program are to empower working artists from multiple disciplines to see their creative practice through an entrepreneurial lens. Learn more about the program on ArtsBuild’s website.

To apply to participate in Periscope, click here.

To nominate an artist entrepreneur to participate, click here.

Why Caged Birds Sing: Art Show

Join local artist Kaleb Knowles for Why Caged Birds Sing, an art show at La Paz Chattanooga! This event will include a showcase of original art, live music, an art auction, and refreshments.

Where: La Paz - 809 S. Willow St.

When: July 19, 2025 (Tomorrow!), 6 - 8 pm

Capricornus: Opening Reception Tomorrow!

Capricornus is a two-person exhibition featuring a small collection of works by Jules Jackson and Emily Rice. It is a celebration of a shared birth month, and like the Capricorn sign of the zodiac, their work navigates physical and emotional realms. Together, this exhibition forms a southern constellation reflecting the Appalachian land, undulating rivers, and folks found here.

Where: St. Andrews Center - 1918 Union Ave.

When: July 19, 2025 (Tomorrow!), 8 pm - 10 pm

Jackson’s towering charcoal drawings stretch to contain figures, symbols, and type seen in his daily life and from his personal mythology. In his drawings, a budget Buc-ee’s mascot can be found among angels. Humor and seriousness live together, stacking portraits of friends, family, and the self alongside nettles, tree roots, and boulders. Jackson subverts the idea of heroics and invites a conversation on the dynamically controversial nature of humanity.

Stubbornly devoted to the scrappy, Rice forms sculptural drawings from their surroundings. They compile cinderblocks, metal, plastic, soil, and flat-files, mirroring the strata of Appalachia. Whether entering a construction zone or walking by the river, Rice seeks a type of relationship through material handling. Soil has been gathered from neighborhoods affected by superfund sites. To-go forks are drawn in colored pencil, and wax crayon indexes of bronze plaques and manhole covers are positioned in the rubble. Rice invites witnesses to question their connection to this land and how our current design for productivity impacts those living within it.

Capricornus opens at the Saint Andrews Center on July 19 at 8:00 pm, nine days after the Full Buck Moon in Capricorn.

The exhibition will also be available by appointment. Contact 423-838-8093 to view.

Address: 1918 Union Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37404

Back-to-School Clothes Drive

BACK-TO-SCHOOL CLOTHES DRIVE: July 17 - August 1!

As the summer is wrapping up, Chattanooga Queer Empowerment Collective is partnering with Velo Coffee Roasters and Stone Cup Cafe to collect clothes for an elementary school that is close to our hearts.

NEEDS: Clothes and shoes for 5 - 11 year olds--

Pants: leggings, jeans, sweatpants
Shoes: new sneakers are ideal
Gently used clothes, and new underwear

Before July ends, stop by one of these lovely local coffee shops with your donations:

Velo Coffee Roasters

509 E Main Street 3

Stone Cup Cafe

208 Frazier Avenue

Please share and donate what you can for these sweet kiddos! Thank you for the ways you are showing up for the most vulnerable in our communities.

Film Screening of Six Triple Eight and Q&A with Shanice Shantay

Culture & Co. Museum, in collaboration with the City of Chattanooga's Office of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, and The Tivoli Foundation, presents a special screening of The Six Triple Eight as part of the Bobby Stone Film Series.

Filmed in Chattanooga by Tyler Perry & Netflix, this showing kicks off C- Chattanooga, a Culture & Co. series recognizing the cultural and commercial value of the Scenic City's creative industries.

See the movie on Walker Theatre's big screen and enjoy a meet & greet session + Q&A with one of the film’s leading actresses, Shanice Shantay!

Doors open at 6pm. This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited, so please reserve your seats on the Tivoli’s website HERE!

For more information, contact us at info@cultureandcomuseum.com

Culture & Co. Museum: @culture.and.co.museum

Shanice Shantay: @luvbeingshanice

Legacy: America, a Portrait of the American Railway

ArtsBuild Artists Work grant recipient Dagan Beckett’s film, Legacy: America, a Portrait of the American Railway, is now available on Amazon Prime Video. Legacy: America is a series that takes a photo of our nation's yesteryear through the lens of photographer, Holt Webb. Holt's journey highlights the people and places that pioneered the American frontier while exploring how many of these historical endeavors, synonymous with defining our nation's identity, have vanished. Following in Holt's travels, the audience is invited to build off the legacy of the past by looking forward as our culture seeks to create a new reality that is both functional and beautiful for future generations.

Click here for more information and to view the trailer.

July 2025 Exhibition

at Shuptrine’s Gallery

Shuptrine’s Gallery is featuring works by local artist Laura Moore Scorey during the month of July! Scorey calls her works on canvas “perfect imperfect paintings.” She loves to explore the beauty, darkness, and shadows that life can bring. Her inspiration comes from anything that evokes emotion, and she loves to create works with a dream-like quality. As the Edwin Hotel Artist in Residence for June 2025 and recently featured in CityScope Magazine, Scorey has established her reputation amongst fine art collectors and is constantly creating new works. You can view her paintings at Shuptrine’s gallery and on our website at shuptrinesgallery.com.

TN Specialty Plates!

A Great Way to Support the Arts

Did you know that the Specialty License Plate program funds on average 80% of all arts grants in Tennessee? What better way to tell the world you support the arts than with a TN Arts Commission arts plate? Just take your old plate to your county clerk and swap it out. They will prorate your tag fees, so you don't have to wait until your tag renewal is due. Purchasing a plate helps invest in arts and cultural activities for schools, nonprofits, and public organizations across all 95 counties in Tennessee. To learn more visit www.TN4Arts.org.

Calls for Artists

Scenic City Clay Arts invites ceramic artists to submit work for My Favorite Bowl Has Cracks, an exhibition exploring the intersection of utility and concept. This show highlights functional ceramics that go beyond mere practicality, embracing deeper narratives, cultural references, and personal storytelling.

We seek work that considers:

How everyday objects hold personal, historical, or societal meaning.

The emotional, political, or conceptual weight of form, surface, and material.

The ways in which function can shape human interaction and experience.

Mugs, plates, teapots, vases, and other utilitarian forms are welcome, as long as they carry a conceptual underpinning. Whether through symbolism, surface design, altered forms, or material exploration, we encourage submissions that challenge traditional ideas of "just a pot" and instead present functional ceramics as vessels for thought and dialogue.

The submission deadline is Sunday, August 3. For eligibility and submission guidelines, click here.

Veterans Bridge Printed Mural Project

Public Art Chattanooga invites artists or artist teams to submit qualifications for a new printed mural design to be installed along the Veterans Bridge pedestrian detour, created during the temporary closure of the Walnut Street Bridge. The mural will be printed on vinyl and installed on a retaining wall near Riverside Drive/Riverfront Parkway to enhance the pedestrian and cyclist experience along this key route. The deadline to apply is Monday, July 28. Click here for more information.

Ready to show your work? Apply to be a vendor at the first-ever Red Bank Arts Festival!

We’re inviting local artists and makers to join us on Saturday, September 27 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Joseph Glasscock Community Center in Red Bank, TN. This brand-new, family-friendly event will feature:

30+ artist booths

Live music, dance, and artist demos

Youth art displays and local publications

We’re waiving booth fees to support local artists and makers—open to creatives within 45 miles of Chattanooga. Apply here. Questions? Reach out to Tessa at RedBankArt@gmail.com.

The Fun Halloween art exhibition will be on display for the month of October 2025 at the Museum and Cultural Center at 5ive Points in Cleveland. We seek to celebrate the fun of Halloween with spooky, scary, family-friendly images that celebrate the nostalgia and history of Halloween in the United States.

The museum is seeking three artists willing to create and display artwork within this theme. A $315 stipend will be given to each participating artist for their involvement. The exhibition will run October 2 through November 1. Application deadline is Sunday, July 20. Click here for more information.

Job Opportunities in the Arts

Director of Arts

Creative Discovery Museum

The Director of Arts drives the museum's Arts program by developing and implementing strategies to ensure high-quality guest and partner experiences. The ideal candidate has skills in program and strategy development, team management, and relationship building with diverse stakeholders. This team leader supports and furthers the museum's vision for the Arts through a robust, well-rounded, and culturally responsive holistic Arts program that includes a wide variety of mediums, techniques, artforms, and cultural dimensions by collaborating with internal staff and external community stakeholders. Click here to apply.

River City Company

Scenic City Sideshows Performer

From magicians to jugglers and more, Scenic City Sideshows light up downtown streets with a variety of performances. Walk around downtown and you’ll come across the many performers throughout the week. Interested in becoming a performer? Click here for more information.