GCA Awards 67 Organizations $600,000 in Funding for Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities Grants

ATLANTA - October 26, 2021 - Georgia Council for the Arts, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, today announced the recipients of the Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities grant awards for fiscal year 2022. The Vibrant Communities Grant supports a variety of arts programming opportunities throughout the state, and the Cultural Facilities Grant supports the restoration or renovation of a building to be used for arts programming. Sixty-seven entities in 50 counties will receive $600,000 in funding as part of this year's awards.

"The arts are the soul of who we are as Georgians and play a significant role in the strength of our economy and vitality of our communities. They contribute to our rich culture and our thriving economy, providing opportunities and experiences along with thousands of jobs," said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. "As economic recovery from COVID-19 continues, we are pleased to congratulate the recipients of this year's Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities grants. I look forward to seeing this funding put to use to preserve and restore facilities and bolster the impactful work of arts programming in every corner of the state."

Georgia Council for the Arts received 96 applications from schools, libraries, cities, historical societies, community theatres, Boys & Girls Clubs, and arts and other related organizations from across the state. The Vibrant Communities grant is available to organizations in counties that did not receive a fiscal year 2022 Project, Bridge, or Arts Education grant, and allowed applications to support online programming due to COVID-19. Cultural Facilities Grants are available to arts organizations for repairing, preserving or acquiring an arts facility, or for purchasing equipment.

"Arts events supported by Vibrant Communities grants will help jumpstart tourism and bring communities together in all parts of the state, while Cultural Facilities grants will allow organizations to focus on their primary mission by ensuring that the facilities where art and cultural events occur are in good condition," said Georgia Council for the Arts Director Tina Lilly. "Georgia Council for the Arts receives reports from grant recipients about how these dollars are invested and their long-term benefits for their communities. We are grateful to the Georgia General Assembly for the opportunity to provide this type of support for our state."

Funding for these grants is provided through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly.

Georgia's creative industries have a reported $62.5 billion impact on the economy, generating roughly $37 billion in revenue and accounting for about 200,000 jobs in the state.

Click here to view the recipients of the fiscal year 2022 Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities grants.

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