As a recent transplant from a larger city in Georgia (Atlanta), I can't tell you how thrilled I was to find such a vibrant and engaged arts community when I recently moved to Augusta, spearheaded in large part by the Greater Augusta Arts Council (GAAC). From bringing in well-known and local artists to talk about their lives and work, to interactive events such as the annual Oysters on Telfair silent art auction (again, spotlighting local artists), I have been consistently impressed by the breadth of GAAC's mission, as well as the dedication of the staff. GAAC truly is an invaluable addition to the cultural life of Augusta (and beyond).
Arts In the Heart of Augusta is a wonderful event to participate in as a volunteer - the types of art - dance, poetry, watercolor, blown glass, sculptur, just to mention a few - are spectacular. The cultural experience is exciting - the food possibilites are tremendous - Brazil, Greece, Phillipines, China, and the list goes on.
The event is well organized and well attended.
There are also events and activities for children to participate in.
AND by volunteering - you get a free T-Shirt!
I've known several of the board members and outreach coordinator for years, and 2010 was certainly a pinnacle year for GAAC. I am especially impressed with the new Contemporaries program which encourages 20-30 somethings to get more involved in the arts community. I have had the pleasure of attending several events, and look forward to many more in the new year! GAAC events and info remain visible on Facebook, but I would like to see a more user friendly website, perhaps more interactive with photos.
The Augusta Arts Council provides a great service to both the artists in the CSRA and the people who live here. They keep the artist apprised of opportunities, give them venues for performance/display and offer assistance at every turn. This gives residents and visitors a rich arts experience in Augusta.
