The Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA), a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, is currently accepting applications for two grant programs for arts organizations across Georgia. Vibrant Communities Grants support variety of arts programming opportunities, including those online due to COVID-19, and Cultural Facilities grants support the restoration or renovation of a building to be used for arts programming.

“Our arts community has felt the painful effects of COVID-19 acutely, so it’s particularly meaningful to be able to offer communities across Georgia the opportunity to earn a Vibrant Communities Grant or a Cultural Facilities Grant to help meet today’s needs and provide for future investments in organizations that make meaningful contributions to our quality of life and our economy,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Our peer review panels always have a difficult job among the applicants, but I trust their counsel and encourage qualifying organizations to apply for these opportunities.”

Vibrant Communities Grants 
The fiscal year 2021 Vibrant Communities Grant is available to organizations in counties that did not receive a fiscal year 2021 Project, Partner or Arts Education grant, announced in July. Vibrant Communities will fund programs such as performances, exhibits, residencies, workshops, murals, public art and festivals, among other types of arts programs. Due to the potential impact of COVID-19 on arts programs during fiscal year 2021, online programs are also eligible for Vibrant Communities Grant funding.

The Vibrant Communities Grant is open to any nonprofit organization, government entity, library, school, college or university located in an eligible Georgia county. Applicants may request from $1,000 to $5,000, and the grant requires a 50% cash match. The deadline to apply is August 28, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.

Georgia Council for the Arts will offer a Vibrant Communities Grant applicant training webinar on August 4, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. Click here to register. A recording of the webinar will also be available online following the training. Applications, examples of eligible projects and full guidelines for Vibrant Communities Grants are available here.

Cultural Facilities Grants
The Cultural Facilities Grant was introduced as a new grant program last year. This grant will support the construction, renovation or acquisition of a building, or the addition of equipment to support arts programs. Examples of eligible projects include renovating a building to be accessible to people with disabilities, carrying out a preservation project on a historic building, constructing a new building for use as an arts facility, purchasing a building for use as an arts facility, and building an outdoor stage or amphitheater.

Eligible applicants for the Cultural Facilities Grant include nonprofit arts organizations or local governments that own arts venues. Applicants may request a maximum of $75,000 and a minimum of $10,000. The deadline to apply is August 29, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.

Applications and full guidelines for Cultural Facilities Grants are available here.

Following the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) precedent, the Georgia Council for the Arts will use 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.