Tennessee Performing Arts Center Management Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE FACILITIES, SERVICES, AND PROGRAMS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY FOR THE GREATEST BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE, INSTITUTIONS, AND COMMUNITIES OF THE STATE, AND TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN FOSTERING THE PERFORMING ARTS, ARTS EDUCATION, RESIDENT ART GROUPS AND OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.
- Income
- $54.2 million
- Spending
- $31.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 40%
- Employees
- 413
- Volunteers
- 160
- Highest pay
- $433,278, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 28 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $23.3 million spent. TPAC'S MISSION IS TO CHAMPION EXCELLENCE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS AND ARTS EDUCATION, FOSTER SUPPORT FOR OUR RESIDENT COMPANIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND SERVE AS AN INCLUSIVE PLACE FOR ALL TO ENJOY MEANINGFUL AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH LIVES AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC VITALITY. ONE OF THE MOST VISIBLE WAYS TPAC EXTENDS OUR MISSION INTO THE COMMUNITY IS THROUGH OUR PROGRAMMING. IN FY25, PROGRAMMING CONSISTED OF OUR BROADWAY AT TPAC SERIES, TPAC PRESENTS AND OUR EXPANDED ARTS PROGRAMMING WHICH INCLUDED DANCE, FAMILY PROGRAMMING, AND A REVITALIZED CABARET SERIES. OUR DANCE SERIES WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE FOUR COMPANIES, INCLUDING A NASHVILLE PREMIERE PRESENTATION OF THE WELL-KNOWN JOFFREY BALLET. TPAC IS THE PROUD PERFORMANCE HOME OF THE NASHVILLE OPERA, NASHVILLE BALLET, AND NASHVILLE REPERTORY THEATER. TPAC PROVIDED SUPPORT SERVICES AND SUBSIDIZED RENT TO THESE PRODUCING ORGANIZATIONS IN ADDITION TO INVESTING AND SUPPORTING THEIR WORK. AFTER INVESTING IN OUR RESIDENT COMPANY, NASHVILLE BALLET, FOR THEIR PRESENTATION OF FIREBIRD DURING THE FY24 BUDGET CYCLE, IN FY25 TPAC INVESTED IN MARKETING SUPPORT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SONDHEIM'S SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, AS PART OF THE NASHVILLE REPERTORY THEATRE'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON. FY25 ALSO INCLUDED A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH CIRQUE DU SOLEIL FOR THEIR WORLD PREMIERE PRESENTATION OF SONGBLAZERS IN JACKSON HALL DURING THE MONTH OF JULY 2024.IN RECOGNIZING THE SYNERGIES BETWEEN PROGRAMMING, INCLUSIVE ARTS, AND TPAC'S ROLE AS AN ANCHOR CULTURAL INSTITUTION, WE IMPLEMENTED AN ENGAGEMENT PLAN TO FURTHER ACCESS INITIATIVES, LEARNING, AND INVOLVEMENT AMONG COMMUNITIES. AS A HIGHLIGHT OF THE PLAN, I AM QUEEN, A THEATRICAL PRESENTATION PRODUCED, DIRECTED, AND FEATURING THE STORIES OF BLACK WOMEN WAS DEVELOPED BASED ON INTERVIEWS FROM LOCAL NASHVILLE RESIDENTS DURING FY25. ADDITIONALLY, WE INVESTED EXPANDING THE ARTS ACCESS PROGRAM FOR LOCAL ARTISTS TO REHEARSE AND PERFORM IN JOHNSON THEATER DURING THE FY25 SEASON.TPAC ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF TENNESSEE & THE TENNESSEE PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION IN 1978. THE INITIAL AGREEMENT ESTABLISHED TPAC PRINCIPALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRESENTING QUALITY ARTS ENTERTAINMENT & EDUCATION TO TENNESSEE RESIDENTS THROUGH THE OPERATION OF THE TENNESSEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. TPAC HAS ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OVER THE OPERATIONS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE FOUR THEATERS LOCATED IN TWO BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE. IN ADDITION TO ITS ROLE WITH THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, TPAC OPERATES SEVERAL PROGRAM INITIATIVES INCLUDING SEVEN ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, PUBLIC OFFERINGS SUCH AS A BROADWAY SERIES, CONCERTS, COMEDY SHOWS, ETC. ADDITIONALLY, TPAC RENTS ITS FACILITIES TO THREE PERFORMING ARTS RESIDENT COMPANIES - THE NASHVILLE OPERA ASSOCIATION, NASHVILLE BALLET, AND THE NASHVILLE REPERTORY THEATRE, ALL THREE OF WHICH ARE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. TPAC ALSO RENTS ITS FACILITIES TO OUTSIDE PROMOTERS FOR EVENTS IN WHICH THE PROMOTERS ARE AT RISK, AND TO THE STATE OF TENNESSEE (WITH RENT WAIVED) FOR STATE EVENTS. TO SUPPORT PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, TPAC OPERATES ITS OWN TICKETING SERVICES. TPAC SUPPORTS ITS MISSION OF PROVIDING ARTS, CULTURE AND EDUCATION FOR THE COMMUNITY BY FUNDRAISING FROM INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, GOVERNMENT AND FOUNDATIONS.
- $615,594 spent. TPAC MAINTAINS HIGH STANDARDS FOR PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO OFFERING A DIVERSE SEASON OF CULTURALLY ENGAGING PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL AND NATIONAL ARTISTS, TPAC PROVIDES SIX DISTINCT PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE EXTENDED EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND TPAC AUDIENCES:DURING THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR, THE SEASON FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (PREVIOUSLY CALLED HUMANITIES OUTREACH IN TENNESSEE) PRESENTED PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES OF THEATER, DANCE AND MUSIC FOR STUDENT AUDIENCES. THE SEASON INCLUDED LIVE PERFORMANCES AT TPAC AS WELL AS VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS TO VIEW REMOTELY FROM THEIR CLASSROOM. DURING THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR, 37,351 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FROM 298 SCHOOL GROUPS ATTENDED SEASON FOR YOUNG PEOPLE PERFORMANCES (45,527 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FROM 295 SCHOOL GROUPS DURING THE 2023-2024 ACADEMIC YEAR).TWO PROGRAMS WERE DISCONTINUED AS OF 2025: THE "ARTS INTEGRATION PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS AND "WOLF TRAP EARLY LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS." RESOURCES FOR THESE SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS WERE REALLOCATED TO FURTHER DEVELOP TPAC'S COMMUNITY-FOCUSED OPPORTUNITIES. AS A RESULT IN 2024-25, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SERVICES REACHED 1,356 THROUGH ACTIVITIES BENEFITING ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS. INSIDEOUT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS WHO WANT TO GROW IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS. EVENTS AT TPAC AND IN COMMUNITY LOCATIONS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUDIENCES TO INTERACT WITH THE PERFORMING ARTS. 462 INDIVIDUALS VIEWED AND PARTICIPATED IN A SERIES OF EVENTS FOR ADULT LEARNERS IN 2024-25. PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS HIGHLIGHTED LOCAL AND TOURING PERFORMANCES, AND A SERIES OF MASTERCLASSES OFFERED INTRODUCTORY AND ADVANCED DANCE INSTRUCTION FROM OUTSTANDING DANCE TOURING COMPANIES. (1,182 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN INSIDEOUT DURING 2023-2024).CAMPS & ADVENTURES BUILD INTEREST AND ENGAGEMENT IN THE PERFORMING ARTS FOR FAMILIES AND YOUTH. TPAC'S SUMMER MUSICAL THEATER CAMPS STARTED IN JULY OF 2022. IN THE SUMMER OF 2025, CAMP TPAC OFFERED SEVEN WEEK-LONG DAY CAMPS TO IMMERSE CHILDREN AGED 8-18 IN MUSICAL THEATER PERFORMANCE AND TRADITIONS. ARTS ADVENTURES PROVIDED 90-MINUTE IMMERSIVE WORKSHOPS FOR YOUTH ON A SERIES OF WEEKENDS IN TPAC'S JOHNSON THEATER. TPAC'S CAMPS AND ADVENTURES REACHED 435 YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN 2024-25. (411 YOUTH AND FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN 2023-24.)DISNEY MUSICALS IN SCHOOLS ("DMIS") DEVELOPS SUSTAINABLE MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SCHOOL FACULTY WITH THE TRAINING AND TOOLS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTION AND TO EMPOWER THEM TO DO SO. PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS RECEIVE (AT NO COST) A PERFORMANCE LICENSE TO ANY DISNEY KIDS MUSICAL, SHOWKIT MATERIALS, INCLUDING DIRECTORS' GUIDES, STUDENT SCRIPTS, ACCOMPANIMENT AND VOCAL CDS AND A CHOREOGRAPHY DVD, AND CROSS-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. SCHOOLS ALSO RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM TEAMS OF TWO TPAC TEACHING ARTISTS DURING AFTER-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES THAT RUN FOR 20 WEEKS. IN 2024-2025 DMIS TEACHING ARTIST FIRST-YEAR RESIDENCIES TOOK PLACE IN SIX SCHOOLS IN MNPS/DAVIDSON, WILSON AND CHEATHAM COUNTIES. 24 ADDITIONAL SCHOOL TEAMS COMPLETED DISNEY MUSICALS UNDER THEIR OWN DIRECTION AND WITH SUPPORT FROM THE DMIS PROGRAM MODEL. 890 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN DMIS IN 2024-25. (IN 2022-23, 909 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN DMIS.)THE SPOTLIGHT AWARDS CELEBRATES, SUPPORTS, AND GROWS THE ARTISTRY AND CAPACITY OF HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAMS IN TENNESSEE. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH THEATRE PROFESSIONALS, AND THEIR SCHOOL MUSICALS ARE EVALUATED BY A DIVERSE PANEL OF ADJUDICATORS. THE PROGRAM CULMINATES IN MAY WHEN EXEMPLARY WORK IS RECOGNIZED WITH THE SPOTLIGHT AWARDS CEREMONY AT TPAC, WHERE THE TOP CONTENDERS FOR "OUTSTANDING MUSICAL" PERFORM AND HONORS ARE PRESENTED IN A VARIETY OF CATEGORIES, INCLUDING TWO WHO ARE RECOGNIZED AS "OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMER." THE RECIPIENTS OF THESE TWO AWARDS THEN MOVE ON TO NATIONAL CONSIDERATION FOR THE JIMMY AWARDS IN NEW YORK. IN 2024-2025, 65 TENNESSEE HIGH SCHOOLS AND 4,031 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING MORE THAN 2,000 ATTENDING THE LIVE SPOTLIGHT AWARDS CEREMONY AT TPAC. (IN 2023-24, 53 HIGH SCHOOLS AND 3,082 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN SPOTLIGHT ACTIVITIES PROVIDED BY TPAC.)
- INSIDEOUT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS WHO WANT TO GROW IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS. EVENTS AT TPAC, IN COMMUNITY LOCATIONS, AND THROUGH VIRTUAL OPTIONS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES TO INTERACT WITH THE PERFORMING ARTS. 1,182 LIFE-LONG LEARNERS VIEWED AND PARTICIPATED IN TPAC'S EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PUBLIC PROGRAMMING IN 2023-24. VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS HIGHLIGHTED LOCAL ARTS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS; CLASSES EXPLORED MUSICAL THEATER, DANCE AND ACTING, AND WEBINARS AND PODCASTS REACHED REMOTE PARTICIPANTS. (1,958 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN INSIDEOUT DURING 2022-2023).
- ARTS INTEGRATION PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS (WORKING TITLE) WAS LAUNCHED IN 2021 FOLLOWING THE DISCONTINUATION OF THE ARTSMART PROGRAM. THIS INITIATIVE SUPPORTS MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIPS PLANNED WITH A LIMITED NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN A WHOLE-SCHOOL MODEL. ONE SCHOOL ENGAGED IN A WHOLE-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP IN 2023-24. A TOTAL OF 385 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AT WARNER ELEMENTARY PARTICIPATED IN ARTS INTEGRATED RESIDENCIES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROVIDED BY TPAC IN 2023-2024 (400 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AT WARNER ELEMENTARY PARTICIPATED IN 2022-2023).
- THE SPOTLIGHT AWARDS CELEBRATES, SUPPORTS, AND GROWS THE ARTISTRY AND CAPACITY OF HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAMS IN TENNESSEE. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH THEATRE PROFESSIONALS, AND THEIR SCHOOL MUSICALS ARE EVALUATED BY A DIVERSE PANEL OF ADJUDICATORS. THE PROGRAM CULMINATES IN MAY WHEN EXEMPLARY WORK IS RECOGNIZED WITH THE SPOTLIGHT AWARDS CEREMONY AT TPAC, WHERE THE TOP CONTENDERS FOR "OUTSTANDING MUSICAL" PERFORM AND HONORS ARE PRESENTED IN A VARIETY OF CATEGORIES, INCLUDING TWO WHO ARE RECOGNIZED AS "OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMER." THE RECIPIENTS OF THESE TWO AWARDS THEN MOVE ON TO NATIONAL CONSIDERATION FOR THE JIMMY AWARDS IN NEW YORK. IN 2023-2024, 53 TENNESSEE HIGH SCHOOLS AND 3,082 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING MORE THAN 1,800 ATTENDING THE LIVE SPOTLIGHT AWARDS CEREMONY AT TPAC. (IN 2022-23, 44 HIGH SCHOOLS AND 3,738 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN SPOTLIGHT ACTIVITIES PROVIDED BY TPAC.)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1978.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.