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Request for Proposals for NYCE Empowerment Collection
Metro Arts is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Empowerment Collection at the Nashville Youth Campus for Empowerment (NYCE). Twenty permanent, site‑specific, wall‑hung artworks will highlight the new Juvenile Justice Court facility.
NYCE will be a family‑oriented, trauma‑informed campus at Trinity Lane & I‑24. This campus will be the future home of the Davidson County Juvenile Court and services for justice‑involved youth and families. The facility, inspired by the vision of Judge Sheila Calloway, a champion for youth empowerment, will be designed to foster dignity, safety, and empowerment for youth and families.
The Empowerment Collection will be installed in corridors, waiting rooms, and gathering spaces within the NYCE facility ensuring that the public will interact with the art daily. Each selected artist contributes one unique permanent piece to the collection. Metro Arts requests artists create a site-specific, 30” x 40” wall-hung permanent artwork reflecting appropriate themes.
Interested artists must attend at least one Metro Arts engagement before submitting. Each session will cover the mission and goals of the Juvenile Justice Court, Metro Arts, and the communities they serve to help artists align proposals.
Online Engagement Schedule:
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Monday, January 12, 2026 – 10:00 a.m. (Register here)
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Monday, January 26, 2026 – 3:30 p.m. (Register here)
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Monday, February 9, 2026 – 10:00 a.m. (Register here)
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Thursday, February 19, 2026 – 3:30 p.m. (Register here)
Only one submission per artist will be accepted. Open to artists in Davidson & surrounding counties. Must be 18+ with at least two years of exhibition or public art experience. Selected artists receive $5,000 (Metro Arts covers installation).
Submissions Opens: January 30th, 2026
Deadline: March 6th, 2026 (11:59 p.m. cst)
Selection Process: April–May 2026
Final Artwork Due: September 1, 2026
Read the full request for proposals here.
Metro Arts is pleased to announce our FY26 grant recipients!
This cycle covers 165 grants totaling $3,262,593 to support nonprofit arts organizations and artist-led community projects across Davidson County. These awards (79 General Operating Support grants and 86 Thrive project grants) reflect the creativity and resilience of Nashville’s arts community and will help sustain programs, deepen community engagement, and spark new work across 30 council districts. We thank the artists, organizations, review panelists, and community members whose care and commitment shaped this competitive process, and we remain focused on improving access and resources for all who create in Nashville.
The full list of Thrive recipients is available here. Our General Operating Support recipients are available here.
For anyone looking to learn more about the policy, process and outcomes of the FY26 grant cycle, you can now replay our Report Back session from 10/24/25 below.
About Metro Arts
La Comisión de Artes de Metro Nashville o "Metro Arts" es la oficina de Arts + Culture para Nashville y el condado de Davidson. Creemos que las artes impulsan una comunidad más vibrante y equitativa. Nos esforzamos por garantizar que todos los habitantes de Nashville tengan acceso a una vida creativa a través deinversiones comunitarias,formación artística y organizativa,coordinación de arte público y creación de espacios creativosy programas directos que involucran a los residentes en todas las formas de arte y cultura.
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La Comisión de Artes de Metro Nashville o "Metro Arts" es la oficina de Arts + Culture para Nashville y el condado de Davidson. Creemos que las artes impulsan una comunidad más vibrante y equitativa. Nos esforzamos por garantizar que todos los habitantes de Nashville tengan acceso a una vida creativa a través deinversiones comunitarias,formación artística y organizativa,coordinación de arte público y creación de espacios creativosy programas directos que involucran a los residentes en todas las formas de arte y cultura.
