1219_GCA_Newsletter 10/10/02 12:33 PM Page 2 GEORGIA ARTS GEORGIA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS FALL 2002 the arts a plan to bring to the forefront THE ARTS have a positive impact on quality of life and sustainable GROWTH We, at the Georgia Council for the Arts, understand that often it is necessary to stop and take the time for reflection to determine our outreach and growth as a statewide organization. Our mission is to encourage excellence in the arts. The best way we can ensure we are meeting this mission is to evaluate the excellence of our own organization. Following a year of self-examination and reflection, the Georgia Council for the Arts is excited to implement a strategic plan that will have long-lasting effects on arts programming throughout the state. We believe that this plan creates a powerful tool to continue to enhance a vibrant arts community. Our major strategic plan goals are: > Improve communities through partnerships in the arts > Increase the economic viability of arts organizations > Strengthen education through the arts > Increase programs and services to underserved populations > Use technology to improve constituent services > Increase proactive leadership by the agency Cultural tourism, economic development, youth at risk and community spirit critical issues at the core of arts programming and legislative funding will show positive results from arts funding. Nationally, Georgia ranks 41st out of 50 states in per capita spending on the arts and at the bottom compared with neighboring southern states. We know that Georgians deserve more. From fostering innovation, to nurturing indigenous rural tradition, the arts have a positive impact on quality of life and sustainable growth and GCA works to strengthen that impact. Ruth Gogel what is the state of the arts In 2001, the Georgia Council for the Arts commissioned Artistic Logistics to conduct a series of surveys to assess the state of the arts in Georgia using the following methods: Georgia State University polled 800 peo- ple throughout the state. Telephone interviews with community leaders were conducted in 22 counties. A State of the Arts Questionnaire was distributed to arts organizations in 24 counties. Town Hall meetings were held across the state. (continued on page 5) 3STATE OF GEORGIA'S ART COLLECTION GOES ON TOUR 3GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE 5smARTistic LEARNING 8ARTS AROUND THE STATE 11GEORGIA COUNCIL ACTIVITIES INSIDE 1219_GCA_Newsletter 10/10/02 12:33 PM Page 3 letter from jan selman chairman The Georgia Council and arts community members have been instrumental in the success of GCA and the arts in Georgia over the past years. My sincere thanks goes out to all of those whose earnest work has helped to foster the arts through GCA. We, at the GCA, are dedicated to experiencing the breadth and depth of the arts in Georgia, and we encourage you to participate by attending one of our many upcoming council meetings. Atlanta Athens Macon February 2003 May 2003 September 2003 Sautee Nachoochee November 2003 Atlanta February 2004 Savannah May 2004 Don't forget that this year is an election year it is important that candidates hear from you about the impact of the arts in their districts and how important it is to their constituents. The arts are a significant industry in Georgia: creating jobs, revitalizing our communities, generating a creative work force and contributing millions of dollars in economic development and cultural tourism as well as generating revenue for the state in sales tax and employment taxes. Our story is a success story and it needs to be heard. We are committed to the success of the arts in Georgia and are more than willing to assist you in advocating for the arts in your community. letter from betsy baker executive director Georgia Council for the Arts is listening to you and planning for an exciting new future for the arts in Georgia. We are exploring new service and delivery methods, working on getting sufficient funding, assessing the economic impact of the arts on our communities and continuing to educate the public about the importance of the arts to our state. We are building partnerships, working to serve new constituencies, promoting public advocacy and assisting in developing the arts for urban and rural community revitalization. However, all of the studies, plans and statistics can't measure up to the value of the human spirit in accomplishing goals. You are our voice speaking to the economic results from a small investment in the arts in your communities. You are the point person to explain the benefits of arts activities, so that over time the arts are a concern and resource for all. You are our partners in delivering the message of the extraordinary payoff the arts can deliver. You speak for our children, for the new, diverse groups of people in Georgia, for youth at risk, for those underserved populations and for all who know the civic value of community arts. You are the voice for the arts in Georgia. It is a privilege to serve you as Executive Director of GCA at a time when the defense of the value of the arts and cultural heritage has never been more important. States are looking at budget shortfalls and the arts will be cut, even though there is increased recognition of the enormous impact the arts have on our communities. We cannot go back to September tenth, but must move forward with double energy and spirit to accomplish our goals. 2 gca staff Betsy Baker Executive Director 404-685-2780 bbaker@gaarts.org Ann Davis Community Arts Development Manager 404-685-2796 adavis@gaarts.org Manages all community-based programming for multi-disciplinary organizations and local arts councils. Grant programs: Community Partners, Grassroorts Arts Program (GAP), Technical Assistance, Community Arts Programs and Services (CAPS) Rick George Grants Program Director 404-685-2795 rgeorge@gaarts.org Directs all grants program activities including eGRANTs. Grant Programs: Presenter, Touring Arts, Folklife Lisa Hewlett Accounting Services 404-685-2793 lhewlett@gaarts.org Provides support to all financial areas. Della Jones Arts Education Manager 404-685-2791 djones@gaarts.org Manages all arts education programming. Grant Programs: Challenge, Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants Darrya Lipscomb Public Information Officer 404-685-2784 dlipscomb@gaarts.org Manages all public information functions of the Council including the Web site and newsletter. Lillian Lowe Secretary 404-685-2792 llowe@gaarts.org Provides support services to the Executive Director and staff. Sherri McGarry Grants Clerk 404-685-2790 smcgarry@gaarts.org Provides support services to the grants program. Walton Ray Arts Services Manager 404-685-2797 wray@gaarts.org Manages all discipline-specific programming Grant Programs: Dance, Literature, Music, Theater, Visual and Media Arts Sean Tenney Administrative Clerk 404-685-2787 stenney@gaarts.org Provides administrative support services. Ann Treadwell Administration and Program Director 404-685-2798 atreadwell@gaarts.org Directs all non-grant activities, programs and services. 1219_GCA_Newsletter 10/10/02 12:33 PM Page 4 georgia EMPOWERING the arts in Over the past year, the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) has helped strengthen and grow the arts community throughout the state in many different ways. Read on to learn more about how GCA encourages excellence and expression in the arts that touch your community. State Art Collection Tours Regular tours of the Georgia State Art Collection an archive of Georgia artists from the 1970s to the 1990s are now available in the Georgia Public Broadcasting building on 14th Street in Atlanta. Used for the benefit, education and interest of the public, the State Art Collection works to preserve and disseminate knowledge about art in Georgia during this period. More than 600 original works by exceptionally talented Georgia artists are included in Georgia's remarkable State Art Collection. For additional tour and volunteer information, please contact Walton Ray Arts Services Manager at 404-685-2797 or email wray@gaarts.org. eGRANT GCA recently worked with Carnegie Mellon University's Center for Arts Management and Technology to develop an easy-to-use online grant application. The system, called eGRANT, allows applicants to create, revise and submit applications and reporting forms on the web regardless of oper- ating system or browser software. eGRANT computes the math, checks for errors in data fields, holds onto data for next year's grant applications and provides easy instructions. The program also allows applicants to track the progress of their application through our process. Visit our Web site at www.gaarts.org to try it out. Access Art through the GCA Web Site Georgia Council for the Arts' revised Web site celebrated its first birthday this spring. Filled with information to tell you more about the Georgia arts community, the Web site contains links to state and national arts resources, a link to eGRANT, a gallery of pieces from the State Art Collection as well as forms, guidelines and deadlines for all grant programs. GCA also plans to add updates to the Web site, which may include "Best Practices," fundraising information and links to grantees. If you have additional suggestions, contact Darrya Lipscomb at 404-685-2784 or email dlipscomb@gaarts.org. preserve and disseminate knowledge about art in georgia. Pamela A. Ross Margo Newmark Rosenbaum Robert Gardner 3 1219_GCA_Newsletter 10/10/02 12:33 PM Page 5 georgia EMPOWERING the arts in About Our Organizational Grants Last year, the budget for general operating and project support grants, before the mid-year reductions, was { } $2,706,737. This year, the budget is $2,491,750. Top ranked organizations come from across the state. Over half of those ranked number one or two in their category came from outside the metro Atlanta area. Application Review/ Panel Dates for 2002 2003 These meetings are open to the public. GCA strongly encourages attendance by applicants. All meetings will take place in the GCA Office. In FY 97, the first year of the funding matrix, the Council was able to award The maximum amount available to any grantee is based on panel rank, budget Traditional Artists Apprenticeships October 22, 2002 top-ranked groups 9.95% of their previous year's operating expenses as a grant. Last year, GCA awarded the top-ranked groups in each category 7.45% of their previous year's operating expenses. { } This year, we are able to award 6.47% size and population. The arts are flourishing in Georgia. We received requests for more than $6.3 million in the organizational grants category for FY03, and were able to award $2.5 million in grants. Community Partners October 23, 2002 Visual Arts March 3 & 4, 2003 CAPS March 5 & 6, 2003 Dance March 10 & 11, 2003 Music March 12 & 13, 2003 Theatre March 17 & 18, 2003 Presenter March 19 & 20, 2003 Last year, the maximum award was $105,659. { } This year, the maximum award is $99,670. Literature March 24, 2003 Challenge April 8, 2003 Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) April 24, 2003 Folklife Projects May 13, 2003 F * For listing of panelists go to www.gaarts.org. a professional development National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts* Building Artistic Communities Conference, November 13-17, 2002, Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit www.nationalguild.org/65th_annual_conference.htm or call Suzanne Sousa, Program Associate at 201-871-3337 or email: suzanne.sousa@natguild.org. Georgia Folklorists Retreat October 25-27, Darien, Georgia, Contact: Teresa Hollingsworth, Southern Arts Federation, 404-874-7244 ext. 14. TAPN Technical Assistance Providers Network* Team of trained arts management professionals dedicated to building a strong arts community for Georgia. TAP-N Advisors will tailor a consultation to your needs, or you can select from a menu of workshops offered by TAP-N Advisors. Workshops range from Arts Council Development to Diversity Building to Strategic Planning. For more information, contact Ann Davis, Community Arts Manager at 404-685-2787 or email: adavis@gaarts.org. Technical Assistance Grants The GCA awards technical assistance grants to help arts groups with organizational and staff development. Technical assistance is defined as the provision of information through consultation and through attendance at workshops, seminars, conferences and other leadership development programs which result in the improvement of the organization administratively and/or programmatically. For more information, contact Ann Davis, Community Arts Manager at 404-685-2787 or adavis@gaarts.org. Georgia Center for Nonprofits Professional Development Workshops* Professional Development Workshops offered for nonprofit staff, board members and volunteers. For more information on the 2002 schedule, call 404-688- 4845, go to www.nonprofitgeorgia.org or email: info@nonprofitgeorgia.org. * Funds are available to assist Georgia organizations 4 1219_GCA_Newsletter 10/10/02 12:33 PM Page 6 what is thsetate of the arts Freddie L. Styles (detail), courtesy of the artist and Kiang Gallery, Atlanta (continued from page 1) As a result of their extensive research, five major themes have emerged about the state of the arts in Georgia: 1. Georgians believe in the arts. The Georgia State Poll found that 84% of Georgians feel that it is important to have arts events in their communities. 2. Leaders in Georgia want more arts events in their communities. 3. Georgians want the arts in education. The Georgia State Poll found that 91% of Georgians believe that the arts are important as a part of basic education and 76% favor using state funds to support arts education in public schools. 4. Community leaders believe the arts are central to basic education. 5. Arts organizations recognize the need for children's program- ming. The State of the Arts Questionnaire found that 25% of arts organizations offer programs for children and 1/3 of them have audiences that are primarily children. The entire report is available upon request. Contact Sean Tenney at 404-685-2787. smartistic The Georgia Council for the Arts, Georgia Public Broadcast Peach Star and Savannah College of Art and Design have joined together to teach Georgia students through the arts. SmARTistic is a multimedia-learning package showing how the arts can teach core competencies in math, science, language arts and social studies. This creative educational package has a 30-minute film, Web-available curriculum materials aligned with the Georgia Quality Core Curriculum, curriculum development training and workshops to show teachers how to infuse the arts into the curriculum. Selected pieces from the state art collection, by artists whose work is in the film, will travel to Moultrie, Augusta, Brunswick, Swainsboro, Eastman, Albany, Columbus, Gainesville, Ellijay and Hartwell. In addition, BellSouth has partnered with this project to produce a SmARTistic poster starring Atlanta Braves player, Andruw Jones. For more information, contact Della Jones, Arts Education Manager at 404-685-2792 or djones@gaarts.org. 5 1219_GCA_Newsletter 10/10/02 12:33 PM Page 7 the strength AND significance OF ART IN GEORGIA The Georgia Council for the Arts exists to support and foster the talent of artists statewide with the understanding that their work ultimately benefits the citizens of Georgia. Each year we award grants as contracts to numerous nonprofit arts organizations, educational institutions, community arts councils, municipal arts agencies, school systems and other groups that offer arts programming. Rick Berman 6 1219_GCA_Newsletter 10/10/02 12:33 PM Page 8 We award contracts to organizations Perhaps our best known initiative is that share GCA's passions to support our Organizational Grants Program excellence and diversity in the arts to and we encourage groups to apply, the best of their resource ability and but we also want to keep you also to those that share the Council's informed of several other funding commitment to making the arts an opportunities available: essential part of the lives of all Georgians. Our decisions are based Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) on an application process followed makes funding available to all 159 by extensive review from our Georgia counties expert panel. Community Partners Grants encourage the development of part- Groups offering arts programming nerships among arts and non-arts can range from the smallest grass-roots organizations to address issues of initiative to a multi-million dollar community concern opera house and GCA understands Touring Grants enable that resources available for each enti- communities to present professional ty are quite different. We are consis- artists and groups in performances, tent in our review process to reward exhibitions or residencies effort as well as results. We encour- Folklife Project Grants support age applicants to describe efforts projects documenting and present- towards improvement as well as ing folklife in a variety of formats results achieved. GCA realizes that Traditional Artists Apprenticeship success doesn't come easy and that Grants support study of a tradi- meaningful change and significant tional art form between a master improvement take time. folk artist and a qualified apprentice Georgia Challenge Program We also understand that one of the supports the development of arts more difficult areas to address is diversity. However, it is also one of the most important. When we distribute state funds, GCA is spending money that comes from all of our taxpaying citizens. That means that there is an absolute obligation to serve the needs and interests of the broad range of diversity that makes up all our communities. We are prepared to help any arts organization in addressing education programs and the infusion of the arts into the curriculum in grades K-5 Artist Residency Program allows schools and nonprofits to host an artist in their community to provide lecture/ demonstrations, hands-on instruction for students and workshops for teachers Technical Assistance Grants support organizational development diversity issues by offering technical assistance grants, publications and staff consultation. GCA realizes If you are interested in applying for any of these GCA programs, we encourage you to learn more about the process by attending our annual grants workshops led by GCA staff and our panel meetings held in Atlanta. If you are an arts organization and would like us to join you in making high quality arts experiences available in your community; if you are a notfor-profit, non-arts organization that is interested in sponsoring an arts program; if you are a school or school system interested in making the arts a more meaningful part of your students' educational experience; or if you are a folk artist concerned with passing along your traditional art form, contact us. Let's see how we can work together to make Georgia a better place to live through the arts. that s u c c e s s & doesn't come easy that meaningful change and s i g n i f i c a n t improvement take time. Kathy Gottlieb 7 1219_GCA_Newsletter 10/10/02 12:33 PM Page 9 aroundthe state Bill Gignilliat, Gregor Turk, Renee Piechocki, Betsy Baker, Laura Lieberman and Ed Spriggs at "Starting A Public Art Program in Your Community" meeting. Inside the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts facility. Representative Calvin Smyre and Susan Lawhorn at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts opening. 8 1219_GCA_Newsletter 10/10/02 12:33 PM Page 10 GCA Partners with MPAC More than 30 representatives of North Georgia cultural organizations from nine counties participated in "Starting A Public Art Program in Your Community," on April 5 at the Smithgall Arts Center in Gainesville. The panel discussion presented by the Georgia Council for the Arts and the Metropolitan Public Art Coalition was highlighted by guest speaker North Carolinabased Renee Piechocki, Facilitator of the Americans for the Arts' Public Art Network, who discussed her development of Chapel Hill's new public art initiative. Betsy Baker welcomed participants and introduced the panelists attorney Bill Gignilliat, MPAC founder and acting director; arts writer Laura Lieberman, MPAC Board member; Hammonds House Director Ed Spriggs, Director, MPAC Board member; and artist Gregor Turk, MPAC Board Chair. Their presentations on the topic of establishing public art programs included a history of percent for art legislation in the U.S., Atlanta's establishment of percentfor-art programming, the administration of public art programming in Fulton County and the development of public art master plans. Participating individuals and organizations received copies of a booklet produced by MPAC, Starting a Public Art Program in Your Community, which provides public art ordinances and guidelines, public art agency contact information, extensive lists of local, regional and national public art web sites, an MPAC library and list serve information. Georgia Council for the Arts plans to make the public art resource guide available statewide in the coming year in partnership with MPAC, the state's leading public art advocacy association. RiverCenter RiverCenter for the Performing Arts completed its grand opening celebration in Columbus with thirty events in May. The 245,000 square-foot facility contains a 2000-seat hall for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, a 450-seat recital hall and magnificent organ, an intimate 150-seat studio theater, a downtown home for the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music and support facilities for many regional organizations. The arts center was made possible by a $75 million public-private partnership and was the product of a $103 million community-wide partnership that also paid for renovations to the Springer Opera House. Rep. Calvin Smyre served as Chairman of the RiverCenter Project Development Team and was recently elected as its Chairman of the Board. Rep. Smyre and the Columbus delegation headed by Rep. Tom Buck secured a $25 million challenge grant from the Bradley-Turner Foundation of Columbus and then attracted over $28 million in matching funds. In addition, a $17 million allocation from the State of Georgia paid for the facility owned by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the local Columbus Consolidated Government donated a city block to construct the $7 million RiverCenter Parking Garage. 9 1219_GCA_Newsletter 10/10/02 12:33 PM Page 11 Economic Impact of the arts the nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion IN TOTAL economic activity National Travel Survey The National Travel Survey, published by the Travel Association of America, shows 65 percent of almost 200 million adult American tourists added at least one day to their trip plans to take advantage of local cultural facilities and activities. Arts and Prosperity Americans for the Arts released a new Arts and Economic Prosperity report profiling the economic impact of the arts in the United States. The study is based on a sample of 91 cities in 33 states and estimates that the nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion in total economic activity, provides more than 4 million full-time jobs and generates more than $7 billion in state government tax revenues. Attendance at arts events generates related commerce for hotels, restaurants, parking garages and more. Data collected from 40,000 attendees at a range of arts events reveal an average spending of $22.87 per person, not including the price of admission. This spending generates an estimated $80.8 billion of valuable revenue for local merchants and their communities. From small rural towns to major metropolitan areas, research shows that the nonprofit arts are an economically sound investment. They attract audiences, spur business development, support jobs, and generate government revenue. Nonprofit Arts Attendees Spend an Average of $22.87 Above the Cost of Admission $15.00 $10.00 $5.00 National Impact of Nonprofit Arts Organizations Total Expenditures $53.2 billion Full-Time Equivalent Jobs 2.09 million Resident Household Income $47.4 billion Local Government Revenue $2.4 billion State Government Revenue $3.0 billion Federal Income Tax Revenue $5.6 billion $0.0S0ouvenirs LodginTgransportation MeOaltsh/eRrefreshments *The Arts & Economic Prosperity study was conducted by Americans for the Arts to document the economic impact of the nonprofit arts industry in 91 communities during 2000-2001. The complete study can be purchased on www.americansforthearts.org. "Cultural activities attract tourists and spur the creation of ancillary facilities such as restaurants, hotels, and the services needed to support them. Cultural facilities and events enhance property values, tax resources, and overall profitability for communities. In doing so, the arts become a direct contributor to urban and rural revitalization." --National Governors Association "The Role of the Arts in Economic Development," 2001 Support of the National Endowment for the Arts This year the National Endowment for the Arts will support GCA in the following manner: Basic State Art Grant $421,200 Arts Education $ 42,500 Underserved Communities $ 53,100 Challenge America $ 90,000 Total $606,800 Please contact your Senators and Congressional Representatives to let them know Georgia appreciates the support from the National Endowment for the Arts. 10 1219_GCA_Newsletter 10/10/02 12:33 PM Page 12 council activities The Advisory Council provides guidance and support for Georgia Council for the Arts programs. Through their hard work and In October 2001, the Council members celebrated their commitment to community by meeting in Colquitt and visiting the Colquitt/Miller Arts Council to see Swamp Gravy. Columbus Museum, the Rankin Art Center and RiverCenter. While there the Council also saw Jessye Norman as part of the Grand Opening of the Bill Heard Theatre. dedication, Advisory Council members help spread the impact of the arts in the state. In February 2002, the Council met after Arts Day in Atlanta with an agenda that included advocacy, the budget and legislative concerns. May 2002's meeting was in Columbus and highlighted the success of partnership by visiting the The Advisory Council consists of five working committees including community arts development, marketing, finance, arts education and legislative. Each committee meets regularly to address issues specific to GCA such as the review of allocations, marketing ideas and advocacy plans. congratulations to... Gloria Ragland's `A Tuscany Field of Sunflowers' Council president Jan Selman, recipient of the 2002 Lexus Leadership in the Arts Award, the 2002 Abbey Award and the Mary Clark Community Arts Award. Stephanie and Arthur Blank, recipients of the 36th Annual Anti-Defamation League Abe Goldstein Human Relations Award. Teodoro Maus, named the Representative of Mexico for Environmental Issues with the United States. Gloria Ragland, accepted into the 25th Annual Exhibition of the Southern Watercolor Society in Baton Rouge, LA Russ Mentzer, promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of King & Prince Seafood Corporation. T. Marshall Jones, appointed by Governor Barnes to the Georgia Council for the Humanities and chosen Alpha Man of the Year by Gamma Omicron Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. advisory council member list The Governor appoints an advisory council with two members from each Congressional district and four members at-large. Please feel free to write our council members about your concerns surrounding the arts in Georgia. Mr. Arthur M. Blank 3455 Peachtree Road, 5th Floor Atlanta, GA 30326 Ms. Sandi Beals 117 McIntosh Drive Savannah, GA 31406-5425 Ms. Debra Callaway PO Box 1425 LaGrange, GA 30241 Ms. Cay Dykes RR1 Box 1315 Cochran, GA 31014 Ms. Joy S. Jinks PO Box 375 Colquitt, GA 31737 Dr. T. Marshall Jones 2305 Pendleton Street Albany, GA 31707-9286 Ms. Angela J. Manson 661 Mulberry Street Macon, GA 31204 Mr. Teodoro Maus 338 Old Ivy Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30342 Mr. Russell S. Mentzer 1 King & Prince Blvd. PO Box 899 Brunswick, GA 31521 Ms. Jane C. Mullins 160 Renfrew Drive Athens, GA 30606 Ms. Gloria Ragland 1414 Park Avenue Perry, GA 31069 Mr. Lee E. Rhyant 86 South Cobb Drive Marietta, GA 30063 Ms. Susan Rice 3126 Mont Pelier Drive Augusta, GA 30909 Ms. Jan Selman PO Box 875 Decatur, GA 30031 Mr. W. Allen Separk PO Box 3475 Marietta, GA 30061 Ms. Marsha R. Shlaer 2423 Walton Way Augusta, GA 30904 Mr. Sam C. Smith PO Box 580 Cartersville, GA 30120 Mr. Howard B. Stroud 243 Deerhill Drive Bogart, GA 30622 Ms. Linda Summerlin 1882 Noah's Ark Road Jonesboro, GA 30236 Dr. Iwan Dale Teare 420 Maxwell Drive Cairo, GA 31728 Ms. Anita M. Thomas 3053 Andrews Drive, NW Atlanta, GA 30305 Ms. Hellena H. Tidwell 1059 Hunters Brook Court, NE Atlanta, GA 30319 Mr. David Yu 4360 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. Atlanta, GA 30341-1049 11 1219_GCA_Newsletter 10/10/02 12:33 PM Page 1 mission vision The mission of the Georgia Council for the Arts is to encourage excellence in the arts, to support the arts many forms of expression and to make the arts available to all Georgians by providing funding, programming and other services. Funding for the Georgia Council for the Arts is provided by the Georgia General Assembly, the National Endowment for the Arts and other private and public sources. The freedom to create, view and interact with a diversity of artistic expression is essential to our democracy and fosters mutual respect for the beliefs and values expressed in the First Amendment. Freddie L. Styles (detail), courtesy of the artist and Kiang Gallery, Atlanta we envision a Georgia that... > Embraces the arts as an important part of everyday life > Believes the arts provide a significant cultural foundation for our future > Acknowledges artists as a valuable resource > Believes citizen involvement in the arts is vital to preserving our living cultural heritage > Embraces arts education as integral to the learning process and a crucial component of a complete education > Believes the arts are a catalyst for community development > Utilizes and promotes the arts as a powerful economic force > Supports quality arts programs and services designed to improve the quality of life in Georgia > Provides access to quality arts experiences for all citizens of Georgia regardless of race, ethnicity, geographic location, sex, religion, age, economic level, sexual orientation, or disability 260 14th Street, NW Suite 401 Atlanta, Georgia 30318-5360 First Class Presort U.S. Postage PAID Atlanta, GA PERMIT #4009