The Arts Education Teacher Training (AE-TT) grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission provides up to $18,000 to support immersive professional development activities for arts education or arts integration. Eligible projects must include curriculum-based workshops or institutes with hands-on learning and collaborative curriculum planning that align with state or national standards. The training should be intensive, spanning at least two consecutive days or extending over four non-consecutive days. Lecture-oriented workshops or projects primarily focused on performances, field trips, or exhibitions without hands-on participation will not qualify.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit arts organizations, arts councils, schools, school districts, or institutions of higher learning. First-time applicants are required to contact the Director of Arts Education to verify eligibility before applying. Projects must have a single focus and cannot receive funding from multiple Tennessee Arts Commission categories within the same fiscal year. Additionally, applicants must have a Unique Entity ID (UEI) and comply with all legal and accessibility requirements.

Appropriate expenses include honorariums for workshop leaders, staff salaries proportional to project time, travel costs for presenters, marketing, consumable supplies, and the development of materials used in training. However, funds cannot be used for stipends, substitute teacher costs, scholarships, capital purchases, food, or out-of-state travel. While matching funds are not required, applicants are encouraged to include them in their budgets to strengthen their applications.

Applications must include detailed project plans, evaluation tools, sample lesson plans, and schedules. Additional documentation, such as board member lists and annual reports, is required for nonprofit organizations. For ongoing projects, summaries of prior evaluations and optional support materials are strongly encouraged to demonstrate effectiveness.

Evaluation criteria include the project’s artistic and educational value, alignment with organizational goals, responsiveness to community needs, support for artists, and comprehensive planning. Applications will also be assessed on their financial stability, public and private partnerships, and ability to meet Tennessee Arts Commission requirements.

The application deadline is January 13, 2025, for projects occurring between July 1, 2025, and June 15, 2026. Applications are submitted through the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Online Grants System. Organizations must update their profiles, complete all required sections, and upload supporting documents. Grantees must complete reporting requirements after project implementation to receive reimbursements.