Savannah VOICE Festival receives Bridge Grant from Georgia Council of the Arts

SAVANNAH, Georgia (WSAV) – The Savannah VOICE Festival (SVF) has been awarded a bridge grant for fiscal year 2025.

The Bridge Grant was awarded by the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA), a strategic arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. The Bridge Grant provides funding for operational support to nonprofit arts organizations. This year’s Bridge Awards will award more than $2.6 million in grants to 204 entities in 44 counties.

“These grants allow Georgia’s arts organizations to focus on their core mission of bringing arts and cultural events to their communities by relieving them of certain operating costs,” said Tina Lilly, director of the Georgia Council for the Arts. “The Georgia Council for the Arts is pleased to help our arts organizations continue to promote the economic and cultural vitality of their communities.”

Bridging grants are available to arts organizations for certain operating expenses such as rent, utilities, program costs and marketing.

GCA received numerous applications from arts organizations across the state. These organizations include performing arts centers, museums, galleries, amphitheaters and music festivals.

“The Savannah VOICE Festival is thrilled to receive these much-needed funds to bring high-quality opera and concerts to Savannah, Pooler and our coastal community,” said SVF Executive Director Evelina Erickson. “In collaboration with other nonprofit partners, local churches and museums, SVF is working to make classical voice and opera accessible to everyone.”

GCA uses a panel of peer reviewers to evaluate applications according to standard procedures established by the National Endowment for the Arts. The panel is comprised of GCA Council members and expert peers who have professional experience in the arts discipline.

Funding for these grants is made possible by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Rescue Plan (ARP).