Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund Provides $500,000 in Critical Funding to Local Arts Organizations

5/5/2010

The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund continues its commitment to increasing the resources available to small and midsized arts organizations. Today, the Arts Fund announced its first round of grants for 2010 – a total of $500,000 in general operating support to ten local organizations. This is the second year of increased grants supported through the Atlanta Arts Recovery initiative, a $2.5 million, multi-year program launched last year to keep Atlanta arts organizations stable as they face unprecedented financial challenges. A second 2010 deadline on July 9 will provide another $500,000 to arts organizations.

“While the worst of the economic difficulties may be over, the financial challenges for arts organizations are no less severe,” says Lisa Cremin, director of the Arts Fund at The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. “On top of decreased corporate and foundation support and declines in ticket income, arts organizations are also coping with state budget cuts to an already weak public funding program. We know that every dollar counts for arts organizations in our 23-county region.”

In 2009, the Arts Fund provided $1 million in grants to more than 20 arts organizations. Reports from last year’s grantees show that grant dollars have not only kept organizations alive but have provided them opportunities to strengthen their operations, governance and programming.

• “In addition to focusing on mission and artistic excellence, we have been vigilant in reigning in costs, seeking new revenue sources and improving operational efficiencies.” (Actor’s Express)
  
  
• “The funding from the Arts Fund played a significant role in empowering staff to continue programming at the expected level of quality and volume through creative management, fundraising and cost cutting in other ways.” (Madison Morgan Cultural Center)
  
  
• “The Arts Fund grant assisted in establishing a more secure financial base… it allowed us to retire our debt, eliminate carryover deficit from 2008 and retire a longstanding line of credit.” (True Colors Theatre Company)

“We know that we are making a difference when we hear that funding has helped arts organization strengthen their boards, refocus on their missions and remain committed to their artistic goals. Our decision to continue investing in many of these organizations is based on their strong performance and ability to get the most out of these dollars,” says Cremin.   

The Spring 2010 Arts Fund grant recipients are as follows: