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The LaGrange Art Museum was awarded a $60,000 Cultural Facilities 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 Cultural Facilities Grant supports the acquisition, construction, restoration, or renovation of a building to be used for arts programming.

As part of this year’s Cultural Facilities Grant awards, 24 entities in 18 counties will receive $1.2 million in funding.

“Arts funding is more vital now than ever, and these grant funds will allow Georgia arts organizations to focus on bringing meaningful arts experiences and cultural events to their communities by improving their facilities,” said Georgia Council for the Arts Executive Director Tina Lilly. “Georgia Council for the Arts is pleased to provide this support to our nonprofit arts organizations, which ensures they can continue to foster economic and cultural vitality.”

Georgia Council for the Arts received applications from arts organizations from across the state, including performing arts centers, museums, galleries, amphitheaters, and arts classroom spaces. Cultural Facilities Grants are available to arts organizations for repairing, preserving, or acquiring an arts facility, or for purchasing equipment.

This funding will support the highly anticipated removal of the outdated carpet that covers the walls of the museum’s galleries. The original textile-covered walls were updated in 1989, and the current carpet has remained ever since. The carpeted walls, now 35 years old, have not only become an eyesore but are also showing significant signs of deterioration.

The museum will be closed for renovation from February 2025-May 2025.  The carpet will be replaced with new drywall, reinforced with plywood to facilitate easy artwork installation.

“This is a significant milestone for our organization to receive such high-level support from the state of Georgia. In the museum’s history, our largest state grant to date has been $20,000 in a single year, so tripling that amount is truly remarkable. I’ve envisioned removing the carpet from the walls for 15 years—this is truly a dream come true,” said Lauren Oliver, museum director. “This transformation will revitalize the museum, honoring its rich history while preparing it for a vibrant future.”

Funding for these grants is provided through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly and the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) uses Peer Review Panels to judge and review applications following standard practices set by the National Endowment for the Arts. Panelists are GCA Council members and fellow professionals who are experienced in the arts discipline or type of grant being reviewed, or are citizens with a record of arts activities, experience, and knowledge.