Downtown Newport Artscapes Awarded $44k Grant

Great news for the art community in Cocke County. On Friday, (7/11), State Senator Steve Southerland announced that Downtown Newport Artscapes is receiving a $44,210 grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission for Fiscal Year 2026, which ends on June 30 next year.

In a statement, Southerland said “Downtown Newport Artscapes plays a vital role in bringing art and culture to Cocke County,” said Southerland. “This grant will help them continue fostering creativity, supporting local artists, and creating opportunities that strengthen our community’s economy and quality of life. Investing in the arts is investing in the future of Cocke County.”

The grant to Downtown Newport Artscapes is the first of a series of grants that will be made throughout FY2026. In fact, the Commission anticipates awarding approximately 1,000 grants in both rural and urban communities in all 95 counties of the state during the year, totaling up to $12.3 million dollars in 18 Annual and Rolling Grant categories.