Government funding plays a critical role in enabling the Nashville Symphony to provide arts access and education for all in Middle Tennessee. Each year, we reach over 60,000 students and families with free concerts, lessons, hands-on musical activities and classroom presentations. Our musicians visit communities across Middle Tennessee to share the joy of music and inspire creativity.
Your Nashville Symphony provides these opportunities – and many more – thanks in part to investments in our mission at the local, state and federal levels.
As a supporter of the arts, you have an opportunity to communicate the importance of this funding to our elected officials at all levels. Please join us!
Here’s how you can get involved:
Join an Advocacy Organization
Amplify the message to legislators that funding the arts is crucial to the continued success and vibrancy of your community.
Nashville Arts Coalition is a group of individuals and organizations who advocate for public policy and public funding that supports a healthy arts ecology in Nashville.
Purchase a Specialty Arts License Plate
Show your support for the arts in Tennessee with a specialty license plate! The cost is $61.50 annually. Proceeds from the sales of these plates provided nearly 90% of the funds for all state grant awards to arts organizations in Tennessee last year.
This program is a critical source of funding that supports access to the arts for millions of people across Tennessee.
You can also give Arts License Plates to friends and family through the Gift-A-Tag program.
Get the Facts About Arts Impact
Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 is Americans for the Arts’ fifth study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry's impact on the economy. It documents the economic contributions of the arts in 341 diverse communities and regions across the country, representing all 50 states (including Tennessee) and the District of Columbia.
By every measure, the results are impressive. This study puts to rest a misconception that communities support arts and culture at the expense of local economic development. In fact, communities are investing in an industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, and is the cornerstone of tourism. Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 shows conclusively that, locally as well as nationally, the arts mean business!
Metro Arts, Nashville's office of arts and culture, collaborated with Americans for the Arts to provide data on the impact of local arts and culture organizations on the economy of Nashville and Davidson County. Their findings indicate that, in fiscal year 2015, the arts made a total economic impact of $429 million dollars, supported more than 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs, and generated more than 6.5 million in attendance. (Wow!)
Contact Your Elected Officials
Let your elected officials know that their support for the arts matters. Government officials at all levels play a direct role in approving funding for the arts, and their decisions make an impact on the organizations that serve our community. Click the links below to get in touch:
U.S. House of Representatives (use the "Find Your Representative" tool to find your U.S. representative)
Tennessee General Assembly (use the "Find My Legislator" tool to find your state representatives)
Metropolitan Council of Nashville & Davidson County (use the "District Lookup" tool to find your council member)
Thank You to Our Government Partners
The Nashville Symphony is grateful for the support of the following government agencies. Each of these organizations is working to create stronger communities by providing access to the arts for all.
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