The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund doles out largest grant total in its history (ATLANTA) - Today nine metro area arts organizations received a total of $500,000 given by the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund at its annual luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, downtown. The sold-out event drew more than 700 guests including Academy Award winner, Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize writer Alfred Uhry, who's perhaps best known for his award winning screenplay "Driving Miss Daisy" and who got his start in Atlanta's small arts venues. The grants will be used by organizations to create crucial staff positions, erase debt, or build cash reserves.
This year's recipients are:
- Alternate Roots - $50,000
- Atlanta Boy Choir - $75,000
- Atlanta Celebrates Photography - $60,000
- Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County - $35,000
- DeKalb Symphony Orchestra - $70,000
- Georgia Shakespeare Festival - $50,000
- Madison Morgan Cultural Center - $35,000
- Moving in the Spirit - $75,000
- Museum of Contemporary Arts Georgia - $50,000
"These organizations are the core of Atlanta's arts scene and it is absolutely critical to fund them, improve their health for the long term and showcase their value and contribution to the community," said Lisa Cremin, executive director of the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund. To continue its unique role of funding smaller arts groups, The Arts Fund is currently in the middle of a fundraising campaign where every contribution will be matched dollar for dollar by an anonymous donor known in the local philanthropic community only as the Kendeda Fund. "During this campaign I have found that many donors have interest in strengthening the arts but never really knew the best way to go about it. When they learn that the Arts Fund unique grants stabilize and make these organizations stronger, they are delighted to help build the Arts Fund's grantmaking capability," said Cremin.
In addition to granting a half million dollars this year, the Arts Fund also recognized organizations that have received its Arts Stabilization Toolbox award. In a joint effort with the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, the Toolbox program provides arts organizations customized consultant services to assist with strengthening management, operations, or governance. Today's Toolbox recipients were Actors Express, Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville, The Georgia Ballet, and VSA Arts of Georgia. The awards help with a variety of business initiatives including board development and training, strategic planning and marketing. In the last 13 years the Arts Fund has given away a total of more than $4.1 million.
For more information about the Arts Fund, go to www.MetroAtlantaArtsFund.org or contact Lisa Cremin, Director, at 404-688-5525 or lcremin@atlcf.org.
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