Though the Metro Arts Commission has distributed more than $3.2 million in grants for the 2026 fiscal year, at least one organization, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, has been left out.

In announcing this year's grantees, Metro Arts acknowledged a boom in applications combined with a steady level of funding compared to last cycle meant not every applicant received assistance.

As the Metro Arts Commission works its way back from several years of instability, it’s hoping the more than $3.2 million in grants it’s awarded for the 2026 fiscal year will be a sign of progress.

After all, this is a Nashville agency that’s grappled with plenty of turbulence directly related to its grant-making process, so much so that the city determined the commission must be granted approval for its awar

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