Georgia Ensemble Theatre Receives Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund Grant

The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund (MAAF) announced the 2012 recipients of the Fund’s prestigious grants at a Dec. 6 luncheon, including Georgia Ensemble Theatre (GET), which was awarded a $40,000 grant toward general operating support. 

This marks a significant investment in GET by the metropolitan corporate community. The Theatre is very proud of this award and the support that it represents here in North Fulton, one of the fastest growing areas in the South. 

The awards luncheon had attendance of approximately 450 people, including business, political, and artistic leaders from throughout the metro Atlanta area.  Georgia Ensemble Theatre representatives at the awards luncheon included Artistic Director Robert J. Farley, Managing Director Anita Allen-Farley, Board President Carla Crowell, Board Secretary Ruby Purdie, Trustees Janet Kincaid and Linda Lee Parker, along with GET staff.  Ben Cameron, Arts Program Director of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, was the keynote speaker at the event, with Helen Smith Price of the Coca Cola Foundation and Willie Mayberry of PNC Bank presenting the awards.

“We are so thankful for this monetary award from the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund," said Farley. "We are fortunate to have an organization such as this doing the difficult and valuable work necessary to ensure that the arts and cultural organizations continue to grow and thrive throughout the Atlanta area. We do not for one minute take this award for granted, and promise to be good stewards of MAAF’s faith in Georgia Ensemble Theatre."

The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has been supporting small and midsized arts organizations in our region since 1993. The organization supports the arts of the metropolitan area by:  seeking, maintaining and sharing knowledge about the Atlanta arts community; awarding financial grants after rigorous competitive review; providing professional consulting; and assisting organizations with cash flow management. The Fund operates under the leadership of Lisa Cremin, director, and an Advisory Board with assistance from Guest Reviewers. Georgia Ensemble Theatre is one of 15 arts organizations in a 23 county area to receive a financial award for 2012. The selection of recipients was made after an in depth, detailed, and highly competitive application and review process. 

Georgia Ensemble Theatre has been fortunate to rally over the past 12 months from the difficult economic times that have affected everyone these past years, particularly the non-profit arts sector. Several foundation grants have enabled GET to stabilize the health of the organization as it has moved into its second decade. In September, GET established the Emerald Anniversary Individual Sponsors initiative this year with generous donations from GET patrons and board members, thus far including: Robert W. Hagan, Paul and Bowe Lang, Carla and Vince Crowell, Dr. Jeff and Janet Kincaid, Barbara and George Lovatt, Ron and Linda Lee Parker, Congressman Tom Price and Dr. Elizabeth Clark-Price and Ken and Patsy Winkler. This initiative will continue throughout the 2012-2013 season. The Theatre is also extraordinarily grateful to corporate and foundation supporters Bank of North Georgia, Fulton County Arts Council, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Macy’s and the Macy’s Foundation, The Abreu Charitable Trust, Georgia Council for the Arts, The Mimms Company, and Northside Hospital, along with many individual donations without whom the Theatre could not exist. 

Georgia Ensemble Theatre continues its 2012-2013 20th anniversary season-long celebration with the world premiere of "Swell Party" by Topher Payne running January 10-27, 2013 at the Theatre’s home at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell, GA  30075.

For more information about Georgia Ensemble Theatre and its programs, visit them online at www.get.org, or call 770-641-1260.