Funding for the Arts

Is Available for Local Organizations

What is GAP?
The Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) is a decentralized funding program which began in 1993. The Georgia General Assembly appropriates funds annually for each of the 159 counties in Georgia. The Georgia Council for the Arts directs the Grassroots Arts Program through regional GAP Agencies. This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. The Council is a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

What is the purpose of GAP?
GAP’s purpose is

• To bring arts programming to underserved populations in every county in the state. (Underserved populations refers to any populace which may not have access to fine arts exposure.)
• To decentralize decisions about how the money is spent.
• To build partnerships between arts and non-arts agencies to address community needs.
• To encourage multi-county arts programming
• To diversify and expand arts audiences.

Who is the GAP Agency in this area?
The Statesboro Arts Council, doing business as the Averitt Center for the Arts in Statesboro, Georgia, has again been named the Agency to disperse funding of the Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) in a twelve county area which includes Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Jenkins, Montgomery, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, and Wheeler counties. This twelve county area is now known as the GREATER Statesboro Region.

Who may apply?
The Grassroots Arts Program is designed to encourage local collaborations between artists, arts organizations and non-arts organizations (civic, human service, religious, business, etc.) Qualified applicants may include:

• An arts group incorporated in the State of Georgia as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization (501c3).
• An arts group not incorporated as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, partnering with a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Georgia.
• A non-arts group incorporated in the State of Georgia as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. Examples of such organizations include: Municipalities, Civic Organizations, Libraries, Historical Societies, Boys/Girls Clubs, Senior Citizen Centers, etc.

What types of projects may be funded?
The funds may be used to start up a completely new program or to add a new facet to an existing program. For example, a group could organize a Shakespearean Festival or they could just add a sculpting contest to an already existing festival.

Funds must be used to support arts activities that are accessible and open to the general public. Programs must demonstrate a benefit to the community or be designed as outreach to targeted populations. Although funds may be used to expand existing programs to reach new audiences they should not be used to replace funds currently being spent in support of the arts.

Projects may be any area of the arts, i.e. performing arts, visual arts, folk arts, etc.

The following may be funded:

• Artists, technicians, instructors
• Art materials & tools
• Performances
• Arts/Folk/Music Festivals
• Instructional Programs
• Murals, readings

What cannot be funded?

• Real estate or facilities
• Prizes or scholarships
• Out of state travel
• Student groups
• Grants to individual artists
• Refreshments or background music
• Non-arts related activities
• Programs already receiving GCA funding

What kind of projects have been funded in the past?
Some of the projects which have received funding in this region are: a Coffeehouse Series, Buffalo Soldiers, Sea Island Singers, Statesboro Blues Concert, Puppetry Pandemonium, a historical mural in downtown Sylvania, African Drumming workshops, Boys & Art (Building Our Youth's Skills), a Reading Garden, Pinocchio: A Timeless Story, Trumpet Quintet/String Quartet Concert, and a Centennial Drama. The most important thing to remember is that your project must be accessible to the general public, i.e. the larger the audience, the better.

How does an Organization apply?
Those interested in applying for GAP funding need only to complete a simple grant application and submit it by the deadline. Applications must be postmarked by the deadline date, or they may be hand delivered to the Averitt Center for the Arts, 33 East Main Street, Statesboro, Georgia 30458, by 5:00 p.m. on that date. No facsimiles will be accepted. Applications will be reviewed by a panel made up of representatives from our region. Applicants will be notified as soon as funds are available.

Contact Tony Phillips for current deadline information. If funds are still available, more funds will be dispersed. When all funds are dessiminated, if applications are turned in, we will do our best to help local funds for your unfunded art programs.

For more information about GAP grants for the GREATER Statesboro area, which includes Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Jenkins, Montgomery, Screven, Tattnal, Toombs, Treutlen, and Wheeler Counties, please contact Tony Phillips via email (   This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   ) or (912) 212 - ARTS (2787).

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does.”
Margaret Mead