Piedmont University has been awarded a Vibrant Communities Grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts, reinforcing the role of arts programming as a driver of education, inclusion, and community vitality across the state. The $1,200 grant will support a new series of arts initiatives designed to broaden public access to creative learning and engagement, particularly among young people and families.
Administered through the Georgia Council for the Arts, the Vibrant Communities program focuses on strengthening cultural activity in regions that often lack sustained access to arts organizations. At Piedmont, the funding will be directed toward free, public-facing workshops and programming coordinated by the Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art.
“This grant will allow us to offer another series of free workshops featuring beloved art educators from our community,” said Rebecca Brantley, director of the Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art. “We had a great turnout at last year’s workshops, and I am excited to see another round of classes led by new instructors.”
This year’s program will include workshops led by Toccoa-based artist Normando Ismay, painter Kathleen Kollock, and Piedmont University alum Imani Spence. While open to participants of all ages, the workshops are designed primarily with children and teenagers in mind, underscoring the university’s emphasis on early exposure to the arts as a foundation for lifelong learning and creative expression.
Statewide, the Vibrant Communities initiative is distributing $230,000 to 55 organizations across 41 counties, reflecting a strategic effort to extend arts funding beyond established cultural centers. The Georgia Council for the Arts noted that the grants prioritize counties that had not yet received state arts funding during the fiscal year 2026 cycle, ensuring broader geographic equity.
“Georgia Council for the Arts is excited to support arts programming across the state that expands educational opportunities for students, attracts tourists who support small businesses, and cultivates vibrant communities,” said Tina Lilly, executive director of the Georgia Council for the Arts. “These grants are vital in areas of the state that do not have local arts organizations and help communities harness the long-term benefits of the arts and improve the quality of life for residents.”
Applications for the program were submitted by a wide range of institutions, including schools, libraries, cities, historical societies, community theaters, and youth organizations. Funding for the grants is provided through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly, reflecting continued public investment in the arts as an economic, educational, and social asset for communities across Georgia.
