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Greetings from GCA's Director

It’s hard to believe that we are already at the mid-point of the state’s fiscal year. It has been a busy and productive six months for the staff of Georgia Council for the Arts filled with new goals and new accomplishments.

The transition to the Georgia Department of Economic Development has been seamless as evidenced by the numerous collaborations that we have launched so far.  In November, GCA and the Tourism Division announced the recipients of the Tourism Product Development Grants.  Eleven of the twenty-four grants funded projects with an arts component including music, storytelling and theatrical productions that will create jobs, encourage tourism and support the arts. Georgia Council for the Arts is eagerly looking forward to partnering with Tourism for the 2013 product development grants. 

We are also actively participating in the efforts of the Tourism Product Resource Development team. Grants manager Tina Lilly, has been incorporated into the team which assists communities with discovering existing resources that foster new tourism initiatives. This is done by delivering technical assistance and financial resources in hopes of creating new opportunities/markets for Georgia tourism products through strategic partnerships, packaging and marketing. Tina’s focus is assisting communities in determining means and methods of incorporating the arts into a strategy that promotes tourism. So far, she has represented the arts in Effingham, Pulanski and Banks Counties with additional visits scheduled throughout the spring.

Georgia Council for the Arts has also developed a number of successful partnerships with other state agencies, nonprofit organizations and cultural entities. The Georgia Public Library System has been an instrumental partner and has worked with us to make our Georgia Masterpieces publication available in every library system throughout the state. We are proud of this publication that celebrates Georgia’s visual art history and pleased that it is now available at Georgia public libraries. We are also partnering with the Georgia Humanities Council as they present the Smithsonian Exhibit New Harmonies in 12 cities across Georgia. The exhibit focuses on American roots music and explores the on-going cultural process that has made America the birthplace of more music than any place on Earth. 

Perhaps most importantly, Georgia Council for the Arts launched its strategic planning process with a kick-off event in Atlanta led by Governor Deal. More than 100 people participated in a vigorous discussion regarding the direction of the arts council over the next five years. Community Forums have been popular and well-attended in Columbus, Macon and Tifton. Each community has presented thoughtful and constructive ideas for Georgia Council for the Arts' future and the most essential ways for us to support our state’s arts industry. If you haven’t had the opportunity to participate, we hope you will join us in February in Gainesville, Augusta or Savannah. Your feedback is essential to us crafting a future vision for the arts in Georgia.             

As fiscal year 2012 moves forward, Georgia Council for the Arts will continue to seek new avenues to support the arts, additional partnerships to increase capacity and more ways to leverage funding for the benefit of all Georgians. We welcome you to contact us at anytime with your thoughts and ideas.

Karen L. Paty
GCA Director