Programs
First Friday Art Walk
The Jackson Arts Council hosts First Friday Art Walk events in Downtown Jackson’s Arts District on the first Friday of every month from April - November. Artist participants are Artist Members of the Jackson Arts Council. We welcome you to come to Downtown Jackson to shop for local art every month!
Grant Programs
The Jackson Arts Council provides numerous grants every year to help fund arts organizations, arts programs, and artist projects in our region.
Art is for Everyone
The Art is for Everyone publication is a comprehensive list of all free and reduced events for fall/winter 2023. This program is funded by the Tennessee Art Commission’s Arts Access Grant. La publicación Art is for Everyone es una lista completa de todos los eventos gratuitos y de precio reducido para el otoño/invierno de 2023. Este programa está financiado por la Beca de Acceso a las Artes de la Comisión de Arte de Tennessee.
Jackson Art Box
The Jackson Art Box program provides boxes of art supplies to students grades K - 12 in the Jackson Madison County School System to help process emotions and encourage creativity in a safe space with school counselors.
Technical Assistance
Technical Assistance to strengthen arts organizations is given through one-on-one counseling, educational forums, workshops and printed information. Technical Assistance includes a wide variety of topics, including grant writing, public relations, marketing, tax status and arts management training.
Communications / Information Services
To inform the public about the arts and art events, the Arts Council creates and maintains a calendar of events, distributing and updating the information on a regular basis to local media outlets and organizations. The Council provides information regarding the arts in Madison County to a variety of other outlets, including statewide government publications, local magazines and newspapers and Tennessee Arts Commission. The Council also provides a speaker for the community organizations and local media programs.
The Council serves as a “point-of-information” to hundreds of citizens yearly, fielding a variety of questions, such as “What art classes are available for my child?” “Where can I purchase tickets to an event?” “How do I get in touch with The Ned?” etc. Our goal is to serve as a central hub of contact for both arts groups and the community to keep up with what’s happening with the arts in our area.
We are happy to help publicize your event. Let us know about your next arts event, and we’ll help get the word out to the public!
Arts Advocacy
The Council encourages governmental support of the arts by joining forces with Tennesseans for the Arts (TFTA). Board members meet with legislators to express their interests in the arts, and the Council communicates with our local legislators to keep them informed of the importance of art in our community. The Council also encourages our community to be active arts advocates.
Arts Coalition
In order to provide networking opportunities, feedback, shared information about funding and professional development opportunities, and a united voice for the arts, the Council facilitates a coalition of arts organizations and local artists.
Anyone who is a local arts leader or artist is welcome to become a member of the Arts Coalition to stay connected to the arts in Madison County.
Arts & Economic Prosperity
Approximately every 5 years, the Jackson Arts Council partners with Americans for the Arts to participation in Arts & Economic Prosperity study, the most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry conducted in the United States. AEP examines the economic impact of the arts and culture in Jackson, Tennessee, and 372 additional communities representing all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Local Artist Services
We facilitate a local artist membership to promote local artists and connect them with open opportunities. Artist categories include basketry, clay, sculpture, stonework, drawing, fiber/textile, film/video, furniture, glass, graphic arts, jewelry, leather, literary arts, music – instrumental, music – vocal, metal, painting, performing arts (non-music), photography, printmaking/paper, and woodwork.
Learn more and apply to be an artist member at the link below:
The Jackson Arts Council sponsors two local working artists a year to go through theCO’s CO.STARTERS program for artists who want to grow their business. CO.STARTERS is a 9 week program that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships and tools needed to turn their business ideas into action. Programs are directly applicable to artists who want to turn the arts into their business, including marketing, goal setting, customer service, branding, and more.
Apply to be a local artist participant in CO.STARTERS at the link below: