A nonprofit that supports community members with disabilities. An arts center that is a respite for artists seeking residencies and workshops. A garden that serves as a picturesque display space for outdoor art projects.
What do all of these rural and urban Georgia organizations have in common? They were all recent recipients of funds that will help them continue the important work of promoting and supporting the arts in ways unique to their diverse communities.
This week, the Georgia Council for the Arts awarded $3.1 million in grants to arts organizations and communities across the state in its first round of fiscal year 2023 grant awards.
In total, 253 grants have been awarded, and the funds represent an increase of more than $1 million over last year, due to additional federal dollars allocated by the state. These dollars bring new arts experiences to local residents, strengthen community engagement, and support economic development.
The grant recipients are representative of the diversity of the Georgia arts industry. Located in every corner of the state, grantees include the Albany Symphony Orchestra in Dougherty County, the South Georgia Ballet in Thomas County, the Okefenokee Heritage Center in Ware County, and AthFest in Athens-Clarke County. Recipients included both arts and non-arts organizations: from theaters, dance companies and museums to schools, cities, colleges, and multi-discipline arts entities.
Bridge Grants were created to help organizations get back on their feet following the impacts of COIVD-19. In this round of awards, the Bridge Grant funding will provide operating support to 134 organizations, including the Hambridge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences in Rabun County. A multi-year winner, the center also received a Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities in February.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Georgia Council for the Arts for this Bridge Grant. These funds will ensure that Hambidge remains a viable resource for artists by providing essential operating support as we continue to heal from COVID-19 challenges,” said Hambidge Development Director Kathryn Bans, in a 2021 release. “Our Board and staff look forward to emerging from the pandemic stronger and with more capacity to serve artists who are in desperate need for the respite that time at a residency provides.”
Another multiple-year grantee is The Columbus Museum, in Muscogee County, which received $25,000 in support in fiscal year 2022 in the form of a Bridge Grant and an Arts Education Program Grant. GCA awarded Arts Education Program Grants to 60 organizations.
“This grant is so important to the Columbus Museum because it helps us provide free field trips to students from Muscogee County and the surrounding areas,” said Director of Education and Engagement Lucy Kacir, in a statement in 2021. “The grant helps pay our gallery teacher and provides art supplies for studio activities so we can extend the gallery experience with hands-on art making experiences.”
Project Grants help fund one-time arts events or a series of events. The 59 organizations that have received Project Grants this fiscal year include Chattahoochee Valley Libraries, which will be putting the funds toward the 2023 Columbus Children’s Book Festival; the Savannah VOICE Festival, which will use the funds on a songwriting project with Deep Center (another GCA grantee); and the Colquitt County Arts Center for its winter dance festival.
Smith-Gilbert Gardens in Kennesaw was awarded a Projects Grant to help grow its public art presence.
“We are grateful for the support from Georgia Council for the Arts,” said Executive Director Ann Parsons, in a 2021 statement. “We launched Art Blooms last year with a mission to provide emerging artists a new exhibit platform while raising awareness of the permanent works at Smith-Gilbert Gardens. This Project Grant will help us grow Art Blooms through art education programs for local students, weekly art programs for visitors, and add a temporary exhibit with regional and national artists complementing our permanent collection.”
First-time grantee ConnectAbility Inc. out of Lumpkin County will use their Project Grant funding for a photography project. The organization offers support to those affected by disability by providing programs for individuals with disabilities, their families, and the community.
As exemplified above, the large variety of arts projects, events, organizations, and centers that exist across the state are vital for creating rich cultural experiences and generating jobs. These grants help support those organizations in their mission to cultivate vibrancy throughout communities, connecting artists and community members for shared artistic experiences.
These connections draw people, businesses, and art institutions into communities to create a lasting social and economic impact.
In 2020, Georgia’s creative industries contributed $23.8 billion to the state’s economy. These industries employed 134,217 workers, who earned wages and benefits totaling over $11.4 billion.
“The arts sector has proven its resilience over the last two years, and it has played a major role in restarting the economy through attracting tourism, bringing communities back together, and aiding classroom learning as we inspire the workforce of the future,” said Georgia Council for the Arts Executive Director Tina Lilly. “The 253 grants we have awarded will help cities and organizations bring people back to work while enhancing the qualities that make Georgia so special.”
Additional grants for Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities programs will be awarded in fall 2022.
Get more information about the fiscal year 2033 Bridge, Project, and Arts Education Program grants in our press release here, and to learn more about the next round of grant opportunities, visit gaarts.org/what-we-do/grants/.
Original source can be found here.
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