The Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA), part of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, announced that it has awarded over $1.4 million in grant funding to arts organizations across the state.
The two grant initiatives offered by the Georgia arts division were the “Vibrant Communities Grant” and the “Cultural Facilities Grant.”
The Vibrant Communities Grant provides funding for various community arts initiatives — such as murals, theater productions and festivals — while the Cultural Facilities Grant supports construction projects and renovations for arts venues.
In total, the grants will provide funding to 69 organizations across 51 Georgia counties, supporting the arts in both urban and rural communities.
Among the recipients include schools, libraries, museums, historical societies, theaters and other arts organizations.
“Georgia Council for the Arts continues to be an important resource to communities and the grants announced today will make a difference for them as they preserve special venues that bring people together and support diverse arts programming that inspires creativity and connection,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson.
According to a release from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the arts sector contributes an estimated $1.27 billion annually to Georgia’s economy and supports nearly 20,000 jobs.
With the grants, GCA said that the funding will enable Georgia arts entities “to focus on their mission while benefiting local economies, revitalizing downtowns and educating young Georgians.”
“Arts are at the heart of what makes our communities feel like home. GCA grants provide essential funding for arts organizations, which helps them achieve their goals, raise awareness of their activities, and strengthen the identity of their communities,” said Georgia Council for the Arts Executive Director Tina Lilly.
“By supporting the arts, we’re not just supporting events but investing in a more vibrant and resilient Georgia.”
Grant applications were reviewed by various peer review panels, consisting of GCA Council members and arts professionals.
Funding for the grants was provided by the Georgia General Assembly, with additional support from the American Rescue Plan (in an effort to help the arts sector recover from the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact).
To view the full list of grant recipients, click here.
