DeKalb, Rockdale programs named among Georgia Council for the Arts grant recipient

ATLANTA –The Georgia Council for the Arts, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), has announced the recipients of its Bridge, Project, and Arts Education grants as part of its initial disbursement of grants for fiscal year 2022. A total of 266 grants were awarded that will provide more than $2 million in funding toward arts initiatives in 49 counties throughout the state.

The Bridge Grant will provide funding for operating support to 135 organizations, the Project Grant will help fund 54 art projects, and 77 programs received funding through the Arts Education Program Grant.

DeKalb County grant recipients include:

Atlanta Artist Relief Fund Inc.

Actor’s Express

Atlanta Radio Theatre Company

A Travels, Inc.

Callanwolde Foundation, Inc.

Coralwood School

Decatur Book Festival

Decatur School of the Arts Foundation

Dunwoody Stage Door Players

Emory University Center for Ethics

Global Village Project

Henderson Mill Elementary School Foundation

How Big Is Your Dream?! Foundation

Kids Video Connection, Inc.

Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, Inc.

On Stage Atlanta

Paint Love, Inc.

PushPush Film & Theater

Room to Move

Several Dancers Core

Southeastern Fiber Arts Alliance

Spruill Center for the Arts

The Essential Theatre, Inc.

The Japan-America Society of Georgia

Utopian Academy for the Arts

Rockdale County:

Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts.

A complete list of the 218 first-round fiscal year 2022 grantees can be found here.

“Georgia’s arts industry strengthens our economy, supports tens of thousands of jobs in cities and towns of all sizes across the state, and plays a meaningful role in our daily lives,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Considering the numerous challenges faced by arts organizations during the pandemic, we are particularly pleased to distribute this funding to help these organizations create, innovate, and flourish. Ultimately, these grants will be felt widely as they benefit our economy and contribute to the vibrancy of our state.”

Funds awarded by Georgia Council for the Arts include appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly, the National Endowment for the Arts, and $904,000 from the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Grant recipients include theaters, dance companies, museums, schools, cities, colleges, and multi-discipline arts entities. Additional grants for Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities programs will be awarded in the fall of 2021.

“As we emerge from this past year’s quarantine, the arts sector is vital to restarting the economy by attracting tourists, assisting with classroom learning, and igniting events to bring communities back together,” said Georgia Council for the Arts Executive Director Tina Lilly. “The 266 grants we have awarded will help cities and organizations leverage additional funds and bring people back to work while providing fun and educational opportunities for Georgians across the state.”

Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) used Peer Review Panels to judge and review the eligible applications received. Following standard practices set by the National Endowment for the Arts, the panelists are made up of GCA Council members, fellow professionals who are experienced in the arts discipline or type of grant being reviewed, and citizens with a record of arts activities, experience, and knowledge.

Georgia’s creative industries have a reported $62.5 billion impact on the economy, generating roughly $37 billion in revenue and accounting for about 140,000 jobs in the state.

About Georgia Council for the Arts
Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) is a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development whose mission is to cultivate the growth of vibrant, thriving Georgia communities through the arts. GCA provides grant funding, programs, and services statewide that support the vital arts industry, preserve the state’s cultural heritage, increase tourism, and nurture strong communities. Funding for Georgia Council for the Arts is provided by appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. www.gaarts.org

About GDEcD
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, align workforce education and training with in-demand jobs, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts and location for film, music, and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. www.georgia.org