City of Savannah accepting ACE Grant applications

Applications are now available for the Arts and Culture Enrichment Program Grant through the City of Savannah.

“Savannah is the cultural and art provider for this region,” said Savannah Mayor Van Johnson. “Ultimately, we want to find ways that are able to make that a benefit that our citizens enjoy first. We also recognize that it attracts people here.”

The Arts and Culture Enrichment Program is intended to integrate arts, culture, heritage, design, and other creative disciplines as strategies that strengthen the City of Savannah’s economic, physical and social vitality.

An annual call for proposals is held each year to align fiscal year resources with the City of Savannah’s priorities in a measurable way.

The City’s Cultural and Arts Investment Program was revised and renamed for funding year 2021 to become the Arts and Cultural Enrichment program, and city funding for these programs has occurred for over a decade, coordinators shared. “ACE is a catalyst in connecting the talents of area artists and arts providers with the residents who benefit as program participants,” Stuart Miller, director of Cultural Resources said.

As the grant’s applications are open, the City seeks proposals from nonprofit organizations that position arts, cultural, and creative programs as catalysts to realize the City’s goals of increasing economic growth through skill-building, employment and entrepreneurship.

Miller noted the ACE investment program has funded organizations that have provided a wide range of programming from literacy development, to after-school music programs, to city-wide cultural and theatrical events.

“Ideally an applicant will use ACE funding to expand upon the organization’s offerings by creating new arts and cultural programming, or expanding access to existing programming,” Miller said.

The submitted proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by members of the Cultural Affairs Commission, who are City of Savannah citizens appointed through an application process by the mayor and aldermen.

A series of virtual meetings will be hosted by the City for individuals to learn more information. Individuals can register by emailing [email protected].

Workshops will be held on the following dates:
July 10, at 11:00 a.m. In person or virtual
July 13 at 11:00 a.m. Zoom only
July 13 at 6:00 p.m. In person or virtual

For those unable to attend a workshop, a prerecorded version will be available online by July 9. Visit, savannahga.gov/2720/Arts-Culture-Enrichment-Program.