ATLANTA- Popes Museum was awarded a Vibrant Communities Grant from Georgia Council for the Arts, a strategic arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, for fiscal year 2024. The Vibrant Communities Grant supports a variety of arts programming throughout the state, including murals, artist residencies and performances in schools, community theater productions, festivals, and concerts. As part of this year’s Vibrant Communities awards, 58 entities in 43 counties will receive over $255,700 in funding.

“Arts funding is crucial for the cultivation of vibrant, thriving communities, and Georgia Council for the Arts is excited to help our arts organizations achieve their mission, enhance downtowns, and support small businesses,” said Georgia Council for the Arts Director Tina Lilly. “We hear from grantees about how the investment of these dollars provides long-term benefits for organizations and communities, and we are grateful to the Georgia General Assembly for providing this support to improve quality of life across the state.”

Georgia Council for the Arts received applications from schools, libraries, cities, historical societies, community theaters, Boys & Girls Clubs, and arts and other related organizations. In an effort to support projects across the state, Vibrant Communities Grants were awarded to entities in counties in which no organization had already received Georgia Council for the Arts funding for the fiscal year 2024 grants cycle.

Executive Director Michelle Dean stated “Popes Museum is thrilled to offer professional shows here at such a nationally significant historic site. The Vibrant Communities Grant, along with partners of the museum, will bring live entertainment of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare to SW Georgia, but also in supporting our youth programs in the performing and visual arts. Over the years Georgia Council for the Arts has been a key player in developing the benefits of the arts in this area.”

Funding for these grants is provided through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly.