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ATLANTA – The LaGrange Art Museum (LAM) was awarded two grants from the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA), a strategic arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, as part of its initial disbursement of grants for fiscal year 2023. The museum was awarded a $5,000 Education Grant and a $12,750 Bridge Grant.

“We are most grateful for our continued partnership with the Georgia Council for the Arts. The Bridge Grant provides operating support, which is the hardest money to raise,” said Laura Jennings, executive director of the LaGrange Art Museum.

“The Arts Education Grant will continue a long-standing outreach program we deliver to communities with economically vulnerable children who have limited access to the arts. Our focus is improving literacy through arts education,” Jennings said. 

Programs were delivered this spring and summer to kindergarten, first and second grade students at the LaGrange Housing Authority’s After School Enrichment and Meriwether County’s Unity Elementary Summer School Program.

The $5,000 Education Grant is a matching grant so LAM must also provide $5,000 for the continuation of this program.

LAM is the only arts organization in Troup County that was awarded funding this year.

LAM received praise from the panel of peers who reviewed the grant requests.

Among the commendations were LAM’s continued devotion to putting on the biennial Southeast Regional Exhibition which provides community access to contemporary art, and its provision for free admission and free monthly art making events for families.

The LAM board was praised financial stability and for evaluating strategic steps necessary to undertake a capital campaign for a much-needed renovation.    

A total of 213 organizations were awarded 253 grants that provide more than $3.1 million in funding to arts organizations throughout the state.

The Bridge Grant will provide operating support funding to 134 organizations, the Project Grant will help fund 59 arts projects, and the Arts Education Program Grant will be distributed to 60 organizations

“The arts sector has proven its resilience over the last two years, and it has played a major role in restarting the economy through attracting tourism, bringing communities back together, and aiding classroom learning as we inspire the workforce of the future,” said Georgia Council for the Arts Executive Director Tina Lilly.

Funds awarded by Georgia Council for the Arts include appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) uses Peer Review Panels to judge and review applications following standard practices set by the National Endowment for the Arts. Panelists are 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.

Grant recipients include theaters, dance companies, museums, cities, colleges and multi-discipline arts entities.

The LaGrange Art Museum is located at 112 Lafayette Parkway.

Its website is lagrangeartmuseum.org.