The Georgia Council for the Arts recently announced the re-structuring of the Grassroots Arts Program (GAS).  The Grassroots Arts Program is a decentralized funding opportunity that ensures every county in Georgia has access to grants for arts programming.  The budget for the program has seen its first increase in more than a decade.

To administer the program the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) has established sixteen partners in its new Regional Partners Network across the state.  “The re-organization of GAP reinforces the mission of GCA to provide access to the arts for all Georgians by creating a coordinated effort that is directed by creative regional partners who are dedicated to local decision-making for arts funding, “ explains Susan Weiner, GCA Executive Director.  “The Arts improve the quality of life for Georgia ’s communities, and serve as an economic engine.  This funding ensures that engine ‘travels’ through each of the state’s 159 counties.”        
 

The Arts Council, Inc located in Gainesville is one of the 16 Regional Partners.  The communities served by the Arts Council are Banks, Barrow, Dawson , Cherokee, Forsyth, Franklin , Gwinnett, Hall, Hart, and Jackson Counties .

The Arts Council, Inc is seeking applications for the FY 2009-program year for the Grassroots Arts Program.  To apply, eligible applicants must be a nonprofit organization or unit of local government and may be either an arts organization or community service organization that develops arts projects.  Civic clubs, community theatre groups, arts festivals, Boys and Girls Clubs, libraries, senior citizen centers, Parks & Recreation departments, etc., may be eligible to apply for Grassroots funding.  Projects may be designed to serve the general public or for traditionally under-served audiences.   The proposed project must take place between December 2008 and June 2009.   The funds are available to secure professional artists (performance or visual artists) for festivals or professional performances or showings for the general public.  Funds may also be used to hire professional actors to perform in local theatrical, musical or dance productions; and/or to pay for a residency for visual or performing artists reflecting a diverse adult population as well as other arts programming.  This year’s grant application deadline is Friday, October 17.

Funding for this important locally initiated program was increased by the Georgia General Assembly for FY2009.  A total of more that $70,000 is available in the ten (10) communities served by the Arts Council for eligible applicant organization and the maximum amount available for a single applicant organizations  is $2,000.00

The Grassroots Arts Program was developed and implemented in FY 1994 by the Georgia Council for the Arts and the Georgia General Assembly in response to two perceived needs. One, every county in the state should be served by arts programs that are supported by state funds. Two, the decision-making process should be decentralized, thus empowering the residents of local communities to make their own decisions concerning the expenditure of state tax dollars in support of the arts.  Grassroots grants are a helping hand, not a hand out.  Each Grassroots ‘grant’ is actually a contract for services provided to the public.  Each grantee must match the Grassroots grant with cash raised locally through ticket sales, donations and other fundraising efforts that demonstrate a partnership and buy-in from the grantee and the patrons who participate in the Grassroots project.

The FY09 Grassroots Arts Program package is available at the Arts Council in Gainesville located at 331 Spring Street, SW.  To receive a copy or for additional information, please call The Arts Council at 770.534.2787 or send email inquiry to hutch@theartscouncil.net.  The FY09 application package is  also available via email or USPS.

Gladys Wyant, Executive Director of The Arts Council, will conduct a grant workshop for the FY 2009 Grassroots Arts Program.  The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, September 23rd and will be held in The Arts Council’s Smithgall Arts Center . The GAP workshop begins at 10am.  To make a reservation for this workshop call The Arts Council at 770-534-2787.

“The mission of The Arts Council, Inc., serving Northeast Georgia , is to enhance, educate, and expand public interest in the Arts.”  The Arts Council (a 501c-3 non-profit charitable organization) is located in the Smithgall Arts Center 331 Spring Street Gainesville, Georgia.  The varied performance programs and exhibitions are partially funded by the Georgia Council for the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and from private individual memberships and donations as well as corporate donations, foundations, sponsorships and ticket sales.  For more information on how you can support The Arts Council call 770-534-2787 or visit our website www.theartscouncil.net.