Fannin and Gilmer arts organizations awarded vibrant communities grants

ATLANTA – Speaker David Ralston and the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Georgia Council for the Arts announced that arts organizations in Fannin and Gilmer counties received Vibrant Communities grant awards to support arts programming for fiscal year 2021.

In Fannin County, the Blue Ridge Community Theater received a $5,000 grant to support its 2021 production of “It’s Time for Laughter: Trouble in the Tropicabana.” The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association received a $5,000 grant to support the 2021 Blue Ridge Writers’ Conference. In Gilmer County, the Gilmer Arts & Heritage Association received a $5,000 grant to support its production of “Good Rockin’ Tonight Christmas Show.”

“Our area is rich with creative arts and cultural opportunities, and I am very proud of these organizations and the contributions they make to our community,” said Speaker David Ralston. “These grants demonstrate our continuing commitment to the arts and the opportunities for enrichment and entertainment they provide.”

“A thriving arts community creates thousands of jobs and contributes to a healthy and diverse economy. The Georgia Council for the Arts is proud to continue to support our state’s arts organizations through the distribution of Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities grants,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “The arts community needs our support more than ever, and this funding offers immediate assistance in housing and facilitating arts programs that provide meaningful experiences for Georgians.”

Following precedent set by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Georgia Council for the Arts used Peer Review Panels to adjudicate applications. These panels included fellow professionals who are experienced in the arts discipline or type of grant being reviewed, or are Georgia citizens with a record of involvement in 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 200,000 jobs in the state.

The 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.

Feature image courtesy of the Blue Ridge Community Theater.