Media release from the Georgia Department of Economic Development:
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) team specialized in empowering arts and culture, Georgia Council for the Arts, today announced that $1.3 million in competitive grant funding will be distributed to recipients in 37 counties across the state through its fiscal year 2027 General Operating Support, Project, and Arts Education Program grants. A total of 179 grants were awarded during GCA’s initial disbursements for fiscal year 2027, and a complete list of these grantees can be found here.
The General Operating Support Grant will provide funding for operating support to 90 nonprofit arts organizations. The Project Grant will help fund 57 single art projects such as an art exhibit, a theater production, a series of children’s workshops, or capacity-building projects, such as developing a strategic plan or providing professional development. The Arts Education Program Grant will be distributed to 32 organizations to support the arts in K-12 education, and many include a variety of disciplines, from visual art to music or theater, to dance and creative writing.
“In Georgia, the arts are at the heart of our communities, from big cities to rural towns. The Georgia Council for the Arts grants we are announcing today will support vibrant arts organizations and diverse arts programming that foster a sense of community, enhance downtowns, and support small businesses,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “These investments will also benefit Georgia students, providing opportunities to enhance creative skills that will help them in whatever career path they choose. Congratulations to these organizations as they continue their mission to deliver impactful arts experiences to Georgians.”
Project Grants will support programs like the Rome Shakespeare Festival’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” part of the annual festival that attracts thousands to downtown Rome. The Moultrie-Colquitt County Parks and Recreation Authority will use its grant to provide inclusive arts and recreational programming for adults with physical and cognitive disabilities through a series of free, hands-on classes.
Arts Education Program Grants will support programs like the E.R.I.C. Foundation Cultural Arts Education Program, which offers year-round, performance-based music and dance instruction for young people in Macon-Bibb County, with instruction delivered by professional teaching artists with backgrounds in theater, music, and dance, encouraging the development of hands-on skills and confidence. In Ware County, the Okefenokee Heritage Center will use grant funds to host its youth art camp and art shows for students across six counties in the region, providing access to arts learning and experiences that would not otherwise be available to the students.
Funds awarded by Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) include appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional grants for Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities programs will be awarded in fall 2026.
“Georgia Council for the Arts is proud to help provide this vital funding to organizations across the state that are dedicated to enhancing quality of life in their communities,” said Georgia Council for the Arts Executive Director Tina Lilly. “From festivals to music and dance performances to visual art that attracts tourists, this program helps support the development of communities where people want to gather, where children learn self-confidence, and where downtowns are thriving hubs for connection and economic prosperity.”
GCA used Peer Review Panels to evaluate the eligible applicants received. Following standard practices set by the National Endowment for the Arts, panelists include GCA Council members, fellow professionals who are experienced in the arts discipline or type of grant being reviewed, and Georgians with a record of arts experience, knowledge, and activities.
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