Georgia Humanities

The arts have always been at the heart of Georgia’s story—fueling creativity, strengthening communities, and driving economic growth. They are the soul of who we are as Georgians—what makes us unique and defines our culture and character. The arts illustrate where we have come from and highlight where we are going, connecting our rich history with the promise of our future. That’s why I’m excited to share that Georgia Council For The Arts has launched “Reimagine: Contemporary Georgia Artists,” a traveling exhibit bringing the transformative power of the arts directly to rural communities across our state. Made possible by the Georgia General Assembly, “Reimagine” will visit 10 communities over the next 18 months, showcasing works from Georgia’s State Art Collection alongside pieces from talented local artists. This initiative is more than just an exhibition—it’s a journey across Georgia, highlighting the creative spirit that connects and inspires us all. At each stop, we see firsthand how the arts spark investment and community growth. In Euharlee, where the tour kicked off, the Welcome Center and History Museum made facility improvements in preparation for the showcase—enhancements that will support cultural programming for years to come. Even more exciting, local student artists were selected to exhibit their work, reinforcing the next generation’s role in Georgia’s creative economy. The arts are more than expression—they drive innovation, economic development, and community resilience. Whether by supporting local artists, boosting tourism, or strengthening public spaces, initiatives like “Reimagine” prove why the arts play a starring role in a thriving society. If you’re near one of the upcoming stops, I encourage you to visit and experience Georgia’s creative heartbeat firsthand! For dates, locations and more info: https://lnkd.in/eXj9JtjJ #GCAReimagine #GeorgiaArts #CreativeIndustries #EconomicDevelopment #RuralInnovation #ArtInCommunity #CulturalInvestment Tina Lilly | Emily Yewell Volin | Allen Bell | Delilah Johnson | Tyrone Webb | Olivia Byers | Vivian Truong | Regan Young | Rebecca Harris | Allie Dean | https://lnkd.in/e5mWm4hR

What’s it like to step into the world of museum professionals as a student? Georgia Humanities intern and public history grad student Hayleigh Sebaugh recently attended the Georgia Association of Museums conference in Milledgeville, where she made valuable connections and gained new insights into the field. At the link, she shares her reflections on the experience and the skills she’s adding to her professional toolkit: https://lnkd.in/er9WHM5V

Congratulations to the Coffee County Memory Project, a Georgia Humanities grantee, on receiving the Georgia Association of Museums (GAM) Special Project Award at the annual GAM conference earlier this month! The award recognizes their outstanding work and leadership on the community history project "Playback & FASTFORWARD." ?? : Rebecca Bush,?Georgia?Association of Museums President; Thomas Johnson, Coffee?County?Memory?Project Research Coordinator; and Karin Dalton, Awards Committee Co-Chair.

Many thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta for hosting Georgia Humanities president Mary McCartin Wearn, PhD to discuss our impact in classrooms and communities. We appreciated the opportunity to share more about programs and how we support students and teachers statewide. And a special thanks to our GH board members and leaders who attended in support!

We are thrilled to share that Clay Kiningham, RA, Lecturer for Georgia Tech School of Architecture, has officially published his book, "Civil Sights"—a journey through the rich history of Sweet Auburn in Atlanta, a neighborhood pivotal to the Civil Rights Movement. Clay’s journey to publication began in 2017, when a sketchbook filled with his observations of buildings, city grids, and people inspired him to explore the history of his own city. After a serendipitous meeting with author Gene Kansas, their collaboration led to this beautiful exploration of Sweet Auburn, where history, architecture, and people converge. The book, a co-publication with UGA Press and Georgia Humanities, features over 100 of Clay’s detailed drawings and Gene’s rich research, showcasing the buildings and spaces that played a crucial role in shaping Atlanta’s history and the Civil Rights Movement. As Clay puts it, "Civil Sights is a call to see—to really see—the places that shaped the Civil Rights movement and the people who made history there." ?? Order your copy of Civil Sights today, and don’t forget to leave a review on Goodreads if you enjoy it! https://lnkd.in/gsHp6j8C Huge congratulations, Clay! ?? We are proud to have you as a part of our faculty. #FacultySpotlight #BookRelease #CivilRights #HistoricPreservation #Architecture #GeorgiaTech #UrbanHistory #SweetAuburn #ArchitectureIllustration #ArchitecturalPreservation

Volunteers Needed! ?? We're looking for judges for the National History Day Georgia West Regional Competition on Saturday, March 1, at LaGrange College. Do you live in the LaGrange area and have a morning open to support local students? Become a NHD Georgia judge! Register @ https://bit.ly/WestGANHD or drop your questions in the comments! (History background not required.)

Another year, another GAM Conference…this time in Milledgeville! As usual, time spent with colleagues and friends of the Georgia Association of Museums was a balm. To make it through the next four years I’ve endeavored to lean heavy into community…in all aspects of my life, and this first conference of the year was just that! It’s 1000% refreshing to be around other folks who are passionate about bringing cultural experiences to the public. And as always, it was a delight to present with my girl Marcy Breffle about grantwriting! Photos: Fellow Georgia Humanities program manager, Jess Alden, and me in front of the childhood home of the great Alice Walker, Alice Walker’s childhood church, home of the “grotesque” author Flannery O’Connor, the old Georgia Governor’s Mansion in Milledgeville, spreading the good word of grantwriting (to Georgia Humanities among others ??), celebrating my intern Alaina White presenting her first poster session, and wrapping the conference with fellow GAM board member, Kendrick Taj Stephens! Can’t wait for next year in Cobb County! ??

We are deeply grateful for the many people who have reached out to share their memories of our friend and former president, Laura McCarty. A memorial will be held on February 15 at 10:00 AM at North Decatur United Methodist Church. The service will also be livestreamed on the North Decatur UMC website. For those who have asked about ways to honor Laura's legacy, we have renamed our National History Day fund in her memory and in recognition of her lifelong dedication to Georgia’s students and teachers. You can learn more about the fund here: https://lnkd.in/g-H52UQJ

We are excited to welcome eight new members to our Board of Directors! Representing communities across the state, these dynamic leaders bring expertise in business, government, nonprofits, and community engagement to support our mission. Please help us give a warm welcome to: Ted Cummings (Covington) Cathy Lee Eckert (Cartersville) Penny Houston (Nashville) Michelle Johnson (Covington) Kathryn Nelson (Blairsville) Shachar Oren (Atlanta) Rondah Q. Thomas (Conyers) Stephanie Williams (Lyons)

Here are our guest speakers for the rest of February. Come join us. February 11th Doug Ellis and Jeanine Chambers, MBA from Angel Flight Soars, Inc. February 18th Mary McCartin Wearn, PhD, President of Georgia Humanities From Stories to Success: Georgia Humanities in the Community and Classroom February 25th Bill Crane, Principal, CSI Crane 2024 Politics: The Year in Review Did you know you can register early and attend all meetings for each month? Reach out to [email protected] or visit kiwanisatlanta.org to register today!