The Bristol Roots Project, formally known as the Greater Bristol Folk Arts & Culture Team, announces two funding opportunities totaling $52,000 for folk and traditional artists and cultural organizations in the greater Bristol region in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee in 2025–2026. This second round of funding is made possible through an initiative by Mid Atlantic Arts through the Central Appalachia Living Traditions program.
The Bristol Roots Project is a collective of three regional cultural organizations: the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, serving as the community anchor venue; the Virginia Folklife Program of Virginia Humanities; and Create Appalachia. By providing targeted resources and support to area organizations, artists, artisans and collectives, this project seeks to increase the sustainability and visibility of traditional practice, cultural knowledge and vitality in the Greater Bristol community. These competitive funding opportunities are available through an open application process.
This initiative offers two categories of funding opportunities. The Tradition Bearer Fellowship supports individual grantees in their creative practices by providing financial support, professional development and public presentation opportunities. This fellowship is for traditional artists and practitioners at all levels from emerging to experienced. Eight $4,000 fellowships will be awarded, representing a $32,000 direct investment in area individuals. Fellowships help sustain local traditional arts while raising broad awareness of the quality and value of the region’s traditional culture. Additional funds will be allocated to professional development and showcase opportunities.
Previous fellows in 2023–2024 include awards to broom maker John Ingles Alexander, luthier Jackson Cunningham, clothing maker Stephen Curd, musician Pierceton Hobbs, dulcimer player Roxanne McDaniel, photographer Anna Mullins, broom maker Erin Simmons and luthier K T Vandyke.
The Cultural Caretakers Grants are available to organizations, venues and cultural sites, focused on small-scale, largely volunteer-run entities that have difficulty accessing typical sources of public and private funding. Four qualifying community organizations or venues with significant capacity-building or general operating needs will be granted with awards of $5,000 each, representing a $20,000 investment in community cultural infrastructure. Previously awarded grants included The Appalachian African American Cultural Center, The Carter Family Fold, Exchange Place and Mount Pleasant Preservation Society.
Tradition bearers and cultural sites in eligible counties are encouraged to apply, though the majority of awardees will be from Virginia, aligning with Mid Atlantic Art’s funding priorities. Eligible cities and counties include Bland County, Bristol, Buchanan County, Carroll County, Dickenson County, Galax, Grayson County, Lee County, Norton, Russell County, Scott County, Smyth County, Tazewell County, Washington County, Wise County and Wythe County in Virginia and Sullivan County, Washington County, Carter County, Johnson County, Hawkins County and Unicoi County in Tennessee.
Applications are open and accepted on the Birthplace of Country Music website through June 30, with funding decisions announced in August. The award period for all grantees will be for one year and will include a special recognition of grantees at the 2026 Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion festival in September. Previously awarded grantees will be eligible to reapply in future funding cycles.
The Bristol Roots Project team members includes Katy Clune, Virginia Folklife Program of Virginia Humanities; Katie Hoffman, Create Appalachia; Toni Doman, Bristol Roots Project Manager and Dr. René Rodgers, Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
For more information on this year’s funding opportunities, visit www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org or via email to BristolRootsProject@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.
