Boosting Culture: Grants Support City Arts Projects in Georgia

The Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) recently announced that more than $3.5 million in competitive grant funding will be distributed to recipients across the state through its Bridge, Project, and Arts Education Program grants. A total of 324 grants were awarded during GCA's initial disbursements for fiscal year 2025. Among the recipients, the cities of Chamblee, Savannah, and Toccoa, along with the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority, each received an $8,000 grant.

Chamblee
The City of Chamblee was awarded a grant for its Chalk Walk and Artist Market, featuring professional and amateur chalk artists creating live art on public sidewalks. The event includes an open community chalk art space, a juried selection of over 45 vendors offering fiber arts, jewelry, crafts, painting, and more, along with food, beverages, and family-friendly lawn games. With 1,000 attendees in 2023, the city aims to double attendance to 2,000 through increased marketing and word of mouth, enhancing the event with more vendors, artists, and performers.

Savannah
The City of Savannah received a grant for Beyond Sight 2024, an art program at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center designed for neurodivergent individuals, those who are blind or have low vision, and wheelchair users. Building on its 2023 debut, the program features an eight-week exhibition of tactile and audio artworks, guided tours, workshops, an opening reception, and an artists' panel discussion. A new advisory panel of five individuals with disabilities will participate in events and provide feedback to improve accessibility.

Toccoa
The City of Toccoa has received a grant for Season 8 of Night at the Ritz, scheduled from September 2024 to May 2025. This series, featuring at least one unique event each month, continues the tradition of providing quality entertainment at an affordable price. The Historic Ritz Theatre, a 448-seat venue built in 1939 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is currently hosting Season 7, which is on track to reach 2,000 attendees across nine shows. With the grant, staff will build on this momentum, aiming to boost attendance and enhance the event experience in Season 8.

Downtown Statesboro Development Authority
The Downtown Statesboro Development Authority was awarded a grant for the "Statesboro Festival of the Arts," a juried fine arts festival scheduled for March 21-23, 2025. This event, held at The Market at Visit Statesboro, aims to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive arts community, promoting appreciation for both traditional and contemporary artistic expressions while positively impacting the local economy. With an expected attendance of 3,000 people, this festival promises to be a significant cultural event for Statesboro and its surrounding communities.