Funds Will Be Used to Improve Production of AthFest, Celebrate 20th Anniversary
ATHENS, July 8, 2015—AthFest Educates was awarded a $5,000 grant from Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) today as part of its Partner and Project grant funding for fiscal year 2016.
Jill Helme, AthFest Educates Executive Director, said the funding, “will allow us to make the AthFest Music and Arts festival even better in 2016 with some production improvements, and add some special projects to mark and celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary!” She added, “we are thrilled that the council recognizes the important contribution that AthFest Educates makes by holding the annual festival, showcasing the artists and musicians of the area and celebrating the colorful and collaborative creative scene here, while also raising money to help strengthen the next generation of artists.”
GCA executive director Karen Paty said, “We are proud to be able to support the work of organizations around the state that exemplify the role of the arts in community development, economic development and education.”
Funds awarded by Georgia Council for the Arts include appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. GCA council members and fellow professionals who are experienced in the arts discipline or type of grant being reviewed or are citizens with a record of arts activities, experience, and knowledge review all the grant applications. Grant recipients include theaters, dance companies, museums, cities, colleges and multi-discipline arts entities.
AthFest Educates is a non-profit organization that awards grants to local teachers and community educators for music and arts educational programs in public schools and community organizations serving children in kindergarten through 8th grade.
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. 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, inspire tourists to visit Georgia and promote the state as a top destination for arts events and film, music and digital entertainment projects.
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