Fulton County Arts & Culture has been awarded an Art Works grant of $40,000 to implement an organizational feasibility study for artists, audiences and non-performing arts staff with disabilities. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Acting Chairman Mary Anne Carter has approved more than $80 million in grants as part of the Arts Endowment’s second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2019. Art Works is the Arts Endowment’s principal grant making program. Fulton County will match the funds awarded through the Art Works grant dollar for dollar. The NEA received 1,592 Art Works applications for this round of grant making, and will award 977 grants in this category.

“These awards, reaching every corner of the United States, are a testament to the artistic richness and diversity in our country,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Organizations such as Fulton County Arts & Culture are giving people in their community the opportunity to learn, create, and be inspired.”

“The study will assist us in our efforts in expanding access to the arts for all citizens, especially residents with disabilities” says Lionell Thomas, Director, Fulton County Arts and Culture. “Fulton County recognizes that artists and arts persons with disabilities often face unique challenges to advancing their art or their patronage of the arts. This study is dedicated to improving our resources for inclusion of all residents.”

PROJECT TITLE

Art Reach Fulton County: An Organizational Feasibility Study for Artists, Audiences and
Non-performing Arts Staff with Disabilities.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

To support Art Reach Fulton County: An Organizational Feasibility Study for Artists,
Audiences and Non-performing Arts Staff with Disabilities. Building on an initial Fulton
County study, which reviewed all county facilities to ensure ADA compliance, FCAC will hire an agency to assess opportunities for individuals with disabilities to fully utilize arts
facilities in Fulton County as members of the audience, employees and performers. The
study will provide recommendations which will impact programming and employment, as
well as plans for facility upgrades and renovation. Additionally, the study will help us
formulate best practices for engaging artists with disabilities. As a service to the field, FCAC will share our learnings with the arts community via educational outreach and trainings.
Our focus is on the Atlanta metropolitan area and our goal is to expand access to the arts
for all residents in our community.

For more information on the National Endowment for the Arts, visit arts.gov/news. For more information about Fulton County Arts & Culture please visit www.fultonarts.org