Success Stories from Current DCA Programs
Artists First Program
"Through DCA's Artists First Program, DeKalb County’s creative artists have an opportunity to network and build a sense of community in an otherwise disjointed arts landscape. For Georgia’s most ethnically diverse county, communication among its artists - an invaluable cultural resource - will, in the long run, provide a catalyst for arts leadership in the region.” - Felton Eaddy, Global Arts Partners
GAP (Grassroots Arts Program)
"The GAP grant that you awarded to our organization was a seed of hope. With it, we were able to initiate our ‘Talking Drum Project,’ a communication skills program for DeKalb public school students. The students subsequently utilized these skills to plan and host Black History Month programs. This project also served as the impetus for the ‘Pennies for Africa’ campaign, which helped raise funds for books and computers to be sent to schools in Nigeria." - Victor Mbaba, President; Africa's Children's Fund
"Beacon Dance has recently faced many challenges; corporate and individual contributions, as well as many public funding initiatives have dropped considerably since 9/11, impacting the non-profit sector in a very serious way. But we've continued to receive support from DeKalb Council for the Arts through the GAP initiative of Georgia Council for the Arts; consequently, our most important work that we have undertaken was not eliminated." - D. Patton White, Artistic/Administrative Director; Beacon Dance
"I am a visual artist who uses language as a working material; drawings, etchings and artists’ books are my main media. Grants from DCA provided, in addition to funding, important validation and moral support which helped fuel my work. Now the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence has asked to house my working papers in their library for use in teaching and for future use by scholars and collectors for research.” - Ruth Laxson, Artist
“Several Dancers Core’s ‘Lunchtime in the Studio’ program, funded in part by DeKalb Council for the Arts, has become a great success. The program includes a free lunch, contemporary dance performance and an audience feedback session. We have especially enjoyed the opportunity to engage younger people, many of whom indicate that this is their first exposure to a live cultural performance. We appreciate DCA as an invaluable supporter in helping serve downtown Decatur and DeKalb County.” - Sue Schroeder, Artistic Director; Several Dancers Core
"Thank you for your support of CAKE! Our concert was a great success, due in large part to the generous support of the DeKalb Council for the Arts through the Grassroots Arts Program. We were pleased to recognize DCA in our printed materials, curtain speeches and on our website. We also appreciate your assistance through the review and reporting process; you made it very easy!” - Melanie Lynch Blanchard and Candess Giyan, Co Directors; Zoetic Dance Company
Literary Program
"Personally I was honored to get the opportunity to have my work published in d'Arts and especially in the Literary Anthology, Manifestations. I can't say enough about the importance of the existence of DeKalb Council for the Arts and the important work it does in supporting arts in the community." - Kodac Harrison, Chairman; Community Board, Poetry/Atlanta
“When DCA began funding Poetry Atlanta, Inc., we were a small literary organization. Today, Poetry Atlanta hosts wildly popular poetry events and publishes the world’s third largest poetry journal, Atlanta Review, which appears in over 120 countries and regularly publishes Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners. Our 10th Anniversary Anthology, The Gift of Experience, is one of America’s best-selling poetry books of 2005. DeKalb Council for the Arts has helped our community to become a nationally admired and internationally known center of the literary arts.” - Dan Veach, Executive Director; Poetry Atlanta, Inc.
Partnerships for Growth Program
"Recognizing the valuable programs our service organization provides to arts organizations and the people of greater Atlanta, including DeKalb County, DeKalb Council for the Arts became part of a collaborative effort by funders to ensure our survival. Without DCA and that collaborative effort, the AtlanTIX halfprice ticket booth and other services we provide would likely have ended - and Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts itself may have had to cease operations. The entire performing arts community of greater Atlanta is deeply grateful for DCA’s commitment." - Kim Patrick Bitz, Executive Director; Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts
"DeKalb Council for the Arts was one of the first arts organizations to validate my work as an independent documentary maker. They encouraged and supported me in finishing my first documentary and were the first to sponsor a showing of it. DCA is an invaluable source of the kind of response and feedback that every local artist needs. By the way, ‘Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Pie’ won as Best Documentary at the Decatur Film Festival!” - Bailey Barash, President; Bbarash Productions, LLC
"Due in large part to the DeKalb Council for the Arts, Global Arts Partners was able to successfully produce the 2005 Stone Mountain Poetry Festival. DCA was first to support the idea, recommending ART Station, our main event venue, as a potential partner. A DCA board member provided direct assistance and guidance, which led to our partnership with Stone Mountain Middle School. In addition, DeKalb Council for the Arts provided full access to its extensive mailing and media contacts lists. And when we received our first donation, DCA agreed to act as our fiscal agent so that contributor’s donations could be tax-deductible." - Felton Eaddy, Global Arts Partners
"Oglethorpe University Museum of Art recently concluded Masterpieces from European Artists Colonies, 1830-1930, a very successful exhibition and the first in America to focus on this significant historical development in the art world. This exhibition generated the greatest attendance and most publicity since our exhibition for the Olympics in 1996. Thousands of visitors and the press embraced it eagerly, considering the exhibition informative, beautiful and enlightening. Many thanked us for bringing such fine art to Atlanta. The museum wants to thank DCA for making this exhibition such an important historical success. This quality of success happened because of your crucial sponsorship and participation." - Lloyd Nick, Director; Oglethorpe University Museum of Art
PLAE (Performance Learning through Arts Education)
“The visiting/resident artists, who are multilingual, teach the students utilizing multiple languages, thereby addressing critical needs: increasing self-esteem, validating their culture and heritage and, perhaps most importantly, making learning English easier and more fun. This is a great program.” - Dr. Michael Meeks, Choral Music Coordinator; DeKalb County School System
“Thanks to DeKalb Council for the Arts, we are not going to miss this opportunity to learn new ways to help our children learn.” - Dr. Cecil Clark II, Principal; Knollwood Elementary School
Temple Gallery
“Much praise to Temple Gallery for its continued efforts in exhibiting works by Georgia artists. As an artist who has worked and shown extensively throughout Atlanta, I consider Temple Gallery one of the most beautiful and historic gallery spaces the city has to offer. I hope more funding and publicity can be provided for this space. Temple Gallery has certainly been in the spotlight more under the guidance of curator Katya Mason Woolard and has served as a most-appreciated stepping stone for my art career.” - Yun Bai, Paintings/Conceptual Art
"As a long-time practitioner of the art of the lens, I’ve been in several shows over the last few years as part of Atlanta Celebrates Photography (ACP). At the last ACP event in 2004, I was fortunate to show at the Temple Gallery as part of a group show, A Sense of Place, curated and mounted by DeKalb Council for the Arts. Temple curator Katya Mason Woolard and her staff worked hand-in-hand with our group of photographers. Katya and the DCA staff were professional without being officious and nurturing without being overbearing or condescending. This was by far my most satisfying experience in dealing with a gallery and has probably spoiled me for future shows." - Marcia Blake, Visual Artist
“The family and friends of Mary Lee Sharp are very happy to tell of our wonderful experience with DeKalb Council for the Arts and Katya Mason Woolard. To celebrate Mrs. Sharp's 100th birthday, we displayed her oil paintings at a grand opening at the Temple Gallery. Hundreds of persons attended the opening night and all of the paintings that were for sale were sold in the first hour. This was the most wonderful birthday present anyone could have. The family of Mary Lee Sharp is very pleased and honored that you would help us celebrate her birthday in such a manner. We are very grateful and appreciative of the DeKalb Council for the Arts for their vision and sponsorship of our mother's work.” - Mary Anne Sharp, John and Shirley Sharp, Terry and Jane (Sharp) Otten
“During the fall of 2004 a group of women artists from Women In Focus participated in an invited exhibition, A Sense of Place. We received full cooperation and assistance from DCA in the effort. Communication between Temple Gallery staff and the artists was very good and as a result things went quite smoothly. When the show came down, we gave the greatest compliment we could as a group: 'Don’t forget us.' We hope this project continues to prosper and grow." - Virginia Twinam Smith, Visual/Photography Artist
Other Success Stories from Past DCA Programs
ACSC (Arts & Cultural Services Contract)
“ACSC funding from DeKalb Council for the Arts has provided me with an opportunity to showcase my work, as well as that of numerous other emerging and established writers, by enabling me to host creative writing events in DeKalb County. ‘The Creative Collaboration in the Southeast’ has attracted writers from as far away as Ohio, who come together annually to share their creative work. The event has also garnered a strong audience of repeat customers who support the event through admission fees. DCA funding for a Saturday arts experience for middle school students in South DeKalb County has also been extremely beneficial. Students have had an opportunity to work with professional artists from a variety of genres who come into their school setting and provide an in-depth learning opportunity in writing, drama, choral and instrumental music, and a variety of visual arts. The ability to engage students in such positive and creative activities on a Saturday has been extremely powerful. Truly the DeKalb Council for the Arts has been a pivotal resource for me in my personal development as an artist. I appreciate the support for artistic expression that DCA has provided to our community.” - Gwen Russell Green, Writer
"Omilami Productions produced our DeKalb Youth ArtsCamp for children ages 7 - 12 at the Abundant Life Church. The children had access to classes taught by professionals in Drama, Visual Arts, African and Modern Dance, and Creative Writing. They were also involved in workshops teaching coping skills such as how to deal with bullies and handle peer pressure as well as conflict management and self-expression.
The youth were from different places; some were bused in from housing projects, some were from group homes associated with DFACS and others
were students whose parents searched out this camp. It was awesome to see
youth from different walks of life getting along and learning together.
At the end of the camp the youth put on a performance for their families and friends, showcasing what they learned at the camp." -
Elizabeth Omilami
"I received two individual artist grants from the DeKalb Council for the Arts through the Arts & Cultural Services Contract. In Chamblee High School I worked with students on a workshop and subsequent mural for the school entrance hall. Working with the students always makes the project more interesting, and the final product received an added level of respect and protection by the students themselves. The other grant was used to work with Worldplay, Inc., in its mission bringing and sharing toys from around the world with children of this country. We taught a workshop in a middle school and painted a three-paneled screen memorializing the organization's work. I have enjoyed these projects and value the trust DCA puts in its recipients. The money was put to good use with little red tape. And DCA's programs introduced me to possibilities for the arts that I would not have tried before." - Cheryl Myrbo, Artist
CAPE (Comprehensive Arts Programming for the Elderly)
“I can't begin to thank DeKalb Council for the Arts enough for helping me, through Roots & Wings Life Stories, to help dozens of DeKalb children learn oral history interview and video/audio recording skills so that they could take those skills into their communities and record and preserve the stories of their community elders.
Through two CAPE grants for community history video projects, children at the Stone Mountain Charter Middle School and Oak Grove Elementary School explored their communities and community histories first-hand. They connected with community elders in deep, heart-felt conversations they might not otherwise have had. The elders and their stories were validated and honored, and children saw role models of aging and aging well. Bridges were built and lessons learned that, I believe, will last a lifetime.
A CAPE grant also gave me the opportunity to share family stories, and to spark others to share family stories through a public performance of 'Sugie's Tea Set.' The afternoon performance was free to the public and was attended by some 50 DeKalb residents, young and old. The discussion and refreshments following the performance gave participants a chance to mingle and share stories, further creating community links that might not otherwise have been forged.
CAPE also provided funding for a series of inter-generational, experiential workshops of 'Tapestry: An Arab-Jewish Storytelling Dialogue' that culminated in a Mother's Day event at the Decatur Public Library. During the workshop following the inter-active performance, participants created three hula-hoop sized 'Hoops of Hope' that were later displayed in the Temple Gallery.
DeKalb Council for the Arts is a critical agency for not only enhancing the quality of life in DeKalb County in the short-term, but also creating the very kind of community that people wish to 'call home' for generations." -
Audrey Galex, Roots & Wings Life Stories
To join the DeKalb Council for the Arts,
click
here for a downloadable membership application.
Members | Programs | Opportunities & Resources | About DCA | Success Stories
If you want to know more about our programs or services, please email
dcarts AT mindspring.com, or call us at 404-371-8826.
© 2006, DeKalb Council for the Arts, all rights reserved.
DCA's Program are funded in part by grants from the following:
ACE
(DeKalb County Department of Arts, Culture and Entertainment)
Frances Wood Wilson Foundation, Inc.
