Click image for a link to HATCH.
"Arriving Home" by Dennis Oppenheim
"The Troupe" by Bart Walters
Riverview Farms at the Main Street Farmers Market
Chattanooga has a rich history of creativity that springs from its strong sense of place. From its rivers to its railroads, its mountains to its Main Street, artists have been inspired by the way of life in Chattanooga for decades and continue to make it a compelling and interesting city in which to live, work and play.
The Benwood Foundation recognizes the importance of the Arts and values Chattanooga's strong cultural history. By investing in the arts, the Foundation aims to support the success of ongoing efforts relating to public art and cultural revitalization, to promote Chattanooga as a vibrant cultural community and to highlight artistic endeavors that have already been successfully established.
In the past, the Foundation has strongly supported the initiatives of several community arts organizations, including CreateHere's STAND and MakeWork programs, Imagine 20/20, the UTC Department of Art, Allied Arts (through funding to its cultural partners), the Hunter Museum's "Art in Public Spaces" and the City of Chattanooga's Public Art Program, all of which have transformed Chattanooga's arts community in significant ways. In addition, the Foundation has also contributed to specific projects, exhibitions, and conferences throughout the city, such as: Art on Main, a series of juried, rotating, outdoor sculpture exhibitions installed along the sidewalks of Main Street; the Mid-South Sculpture Alliance Conference and Exhibition; the Hunter Museum's "Art in Public Places"; and one of the Four Seasons sculptures by local artist David Akhriev.
To learn more about the projects that Benwood has supported in Chattanooga, we invite you to read over the grant history below. Organizations that best fit the Foundation's priorities will be invited to submit grant proposals.
GAINING GROUND
In 2009, the Benwood Foundation delved deeper into their cultural commitment to the Chattanooga area and decided to embark on a targeted grantmaking project that would affect the local culture and economy in a more profound way.
Realizing the existing grassroots support, the potential for growth, and the need for organization in Chattanooga's food system, the Foundation launched a program in 2010 called Gaining Ground, aimed specifically at bolstering the production and consumption of locally grown food in the Chattanooga area. By supporting local food growers and producers, enhancing the market for locally grown food, building strong connections in our food system, informing policymakers and inspiring the public, the Benwood Foundation hopes that Gaining Ground will help make fresh, local food accessible to more of the population and challenge the Chattanooga region think about food in new ways.
Gaining Ground has worked with several partners in the local food network, including a local farmers co-operative, the Slow Food chapter at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Crabtree Farms, regional food distributors, local schools, grocers, restaurants, food artisans and farmers markets. Through their efforts, Gaining Ground is investing in the transformation of not only the economy of our local food system, but also the culture in which it is embedded.
Benwood has planned to invest up to $1.65 million in Gaining Ground over a three-year period. Grants that the Benwood Foundation has awarded through Gaining Ground can be found here. To learn more about Gaining Ground, visit their website.
Grants Awarded
2011
Chattanooga, TN
$100,000
For their Annual Campaign.
Chattanooga, TN
$20,000
For the Cultural Plan.
Chattanooga, TN
$5,000
For the Bethlehem Center Sculpture Project.
Chattanooga Woodworking Academy Chattanooga, TN $50,000
To establish a school that will provide a formal education in basic and advanced woodworking skills.
Chattanooga, TN
$15,000
For the Sculpture Conference 2012 - part of a new "ArtsWeek" Festival.
2010
Chattanooga, TN
$100,000
For their Annual Campaign, supporting 16 arts and cultural organizations in the greater Chattanooga area through the Cultural Partner Operating Support Grant program.
Chattanooga, TN
$7,500
For a documentary film based on the book, "Contempt of Court: The Turn of the Century Lynching that Launched a Hundred Years of Federalism."
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$60,000
For the purchase two public sculptures to be placed on two corner lots in downtown Chattanooga.
2009
Chattanooga, TN
$100,000
For their Annual Campaign, supporting 16 arts and cultural organizations in the greater Chattanooga area through the Cultural Partner Operating Support Grant program.
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$71,500
For Art in Public Spaces, the Public Art Program of the City of Chattanooga.
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$75,000
For the Four Seasons sculpture by Daud Akhriev.
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$2,500
For the Web Education Summit Fund.
Chattanooga, TN
$750,000
For the purchase of museum quality sculptures to be installed permanently in public spaces in the downtown area.
Chattanooga, TN
$10,000
For the Sculpture Symposium and exhibition on the Chattanooga RiverWalk.
Chattanooga, TN
$10,000
For sponsorship of the Mid-South Sculpture Alliance Conference held in Chattanooga.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$1,500
For the establishment of a chapter of Slow Food at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
University of Tennessee Department of Art
Chattanooga, TN
$25,000
For the establishment of a new curriculum in web-based media and photography.
2008
Chattanooga, TN
$150,000
For the annual Capital Campaign, supporting 16 arts and cultural organizations in the greater Chattanooga area through the Cultural Partner Operating Support Grant program.
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$26,000
For Art in Public Spaces and the Public Art Program of the City of Chattanooga.
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$10,000
For GreenSpaces, to assist the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on the process designing and constructing a LEED certified library.
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$150,000
For the MakeWork Initiative, to stimulate Chattanooga's creative economy and empower artists and artisans with the tools they need to succeed and grow.
Chattanooga, TN
$450,000
For the purchase of museum quality sculptures to be installed permanently in public spaces in the downtown area.
Nashville, TN
$25,000
For sponsorship of the Tennessee Arts Commission's National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in Chattanooga.
University of Tennessee Department of Art
Chattanooga, TN
$25,000
For the establishment of a new curriculum in a web-media and photography.
University of Tennessee Department of Art
Chattanooga, TN
$5,000
For the support of Professor Inman-Jensen's participation in conferences.
2007
Chattanooga, TN
$150,000
For the annual Capital Campaign, supporting 16 arts and cultural organizations in the greater Chattanooga area through the Cultural Partner Operating Support Grant program.
Chattanooga, TN
$110,000
For general operating support.
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$24,500
For Art in Public Spaces and the Public Art Program of the City of Chattanooga.
Fellowship of Southern Writers
Chattanooga, TN
$10,000
For the establishment of a permanent headquarters, staff hire and development of related activities and programming in Chattanooga.
University of Tennessee Department of Art
Chattanooga, TN
$25,000
For the establishment of a new curriculum in web-media and photography.
2006
Chattanooga, TN
$200,000
For the annual Capital Campaign, supporting 16 arts and cultural organizations in the greater Chattanooga area through the Cultural Partner Operating Support Grant program.
Chattanooga, TN
$100,000
For the Public Art Program of the City of Chattanooga.