ATLANTA- Popes Museum Preservation, the nonprofit organization that works with Pope’s Museum was awarded a Vibrant Communities Grant from Georgia Council for the Arts, the Georgia Department of Economic Development team specialized in supporting arts and culture, for fiscal year 2025. 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, 47 entities in 37 counties will receive over $190,890 in funding.

“Thriving arts organizations cultivate vibrant communities, and Georgia Council for the Arts is excited to help our arts organizations provide programming that brings arts education to schools, draws tourists who support local businesses, and breathes new life into downtowns,” said Georgia Council for the Arts Executive Director Tina Lilly. “Investments in the arts provide long-term benefits for organizations and communities and fuel Georgia’s economy, improving 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 2025 grants cycle.

Located in north Grady County, Pope’s Museum is the home and art environment of Laura Pope Forester (1873-1953), a trailblazer in women’s rights and a staunch supporter of American veterans. Working with various agencies, businesses and individuals, Pope’s Museum is using the arts to create an outdoor area to honor women veterans. The area will include an artistic 12- foot mural, outdoor seating, landscaping, and more. The dedication event will be held at Pope’s Museum on March 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. and is free to the public.

“Honoring women veterans at this national historic site is a natural partnership,” stated Executive Director Michelle Dean. “Mrs. Pope Forester used art to honor both women and veterans. This is an extension of that mission.” Also involved in the dedication ceremony are performing artists and patriots from Cairo High School and JROTC. Dean continued, “This will be a chance for Southwest Georgia to support our veterans and students. The arts are a powerful medium for communication and community engagement. This grant is a key part of this project.”

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