Georgia Council for the Arts

Georgia Council for the Arts empowers the arts industry in Georgia and artists around the state to cultivate healthy, vibrant communities that are rich in civic participation, cultural development and economic prosperity. As a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Council for the Arts provides grant funding, programs and services statewide that support this vital industry, preserve our cultural heritage and create increased access to high quality arts experiences.

The creative industries in Georgia represent more than 12,000 businesses that employ almost 200,000 people and generate almost $29 billion in annual revenue. This industry provides artistic and cultural entertainment for Georgia residents, as well as for millions of tourists who visit each year. Georgia Council for the Arts has awarded more than $18 million in grant funding to the nonprofit arts industry over the last five years, enabling those organizations to generate more than $858 million in revenue. Providing this level of grant funding supports activities and events that assist the arts in driving tourism and local economic growth by significantly expanding the number of people enjoying artistic and cultural endeavors, creating jobs, supporting arts education, and enriching community identity.

Visitors to arts and cultural attractions in Georgia travel longer and spend more on average than other visitors. A recent study determined that 380 Georgia-based arts and cultural organizations generated more than $18 million in sales tax revenue for the state. 

Funding for Georgia Council for the Arts is provided by the Georgia General Assembly, the National Endowment for the Arts and other private and public sources