The Artisans Village receives grant funding from Georgia Council for the Arts

ATLANTA, Nov. 2020—The Artisans Village was awarded a Vibrant Communities Grant for fiscal year 2021 from Georgia Council for the Arts, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). The Vibrant Communities Grant supports a variety of arts programming opportunities in communities. The Artisans Village is one of 70 entities in 53 counties that received more than $285,000 in funding as part of this year’s awards.

“A thriving arts community creates thousands of jobs and contributes to a healthy and diverse economy. Georgia Council for the Arts is proud to continue to support our state’s arts organizations through the distribution of Vibrant Communities Grants,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “The arts community needs our support more than ever, and this funding offers immediate assistance in facilitating arts programs that provide meaningful experiences for Georgians.”

This grant will help fund the completion of two murals during Phase II of Eatonton’s Ghost Sign Mural Restoration Project.  The largest, located at 107 N. Madison Ave (Blackwell’s Furniture), was a “Blue Shoe” sign. It is a half-block off of the town square and next to the Gold Ring Flour mural restored in 2019.  This mural is sizable and will require two lifts to complete, thus is more expensive to restore. The other is located at 109 E. Marion, The Artisans Village livery, which is on schedule to be renovated by the end of 2020. The livery, which is designed for glass blowing and metal workers, is part of a Placemaking project designed to revitalize this public space one block off the town square, which includes the City’s outdoor stage, City parking, and the other building owned by The Artisans Village.  Read more information on the Phase I Ghost Mural Project and on Phase II Ghost Mural Project.

Following precedent set by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Georgia Council for the Arts used 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.

Georgia’s creative industries have a reported $62.5 billion impact on the economy, generating roughly $37 billion in revenue and accounting for about 200,000 jobs in the state.

Click here to view the recipients of the fiscal year 2021 Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities grants.

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About Georgia Council for the Arts

Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) is a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development whose mission is to cultivate the growth of vibrant, thriving Georgia communities through the arts.  GCA provides grant funding, programs and services statewide that support the vital arts industry, preserve the state’s cultural heritage, increase tourism and nurture strong communities.  Funding for Georgia Council for the Arts is provided by appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

About the Georgia Department of Economic Development

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) plans, manages and mobilizes state resources to attract new business investment to Georgia, drive the expansion of existing industry and small business, locate new markets for Georgia products, inspire tourists to visit Georgia and promote the state as a top destination for arts events and film, music and digital entertainment projects.

About The Artisans Village

The Artisans Village, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization was created in 2015 to advance the visual arts to strengthen the economy and enhance the quality of life in Lake Country. The Artisans Village operates a non-profit art gallery designed to provide an affordable outlet for area artists to market their work and has purchased two historic buildings to create an active artisans’ community.  READ MORE >