Arts in Macon

Please join me in congratulating the nine local arts organizations that received a combined $537,000 in funding from the Knight Arts Challenge. We can’t wait to see these exciting projects come to life!

Call for innovative Arts Tech ideas

Knight Arts is currently seeking ideas centered around a question: How might cultural institutions use technology to connect people to the arts? The application window is open now through March 6 with an open office hours phone call on March 2 from 1-2 p.m. Details here.

Beverly Knight Olson recognition
 
On Feb. 9, Beverly Knight Olson was inducted into the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Georgia’s Alumni Hall of Fame as the Service to Community Honoree. Congratulations Beverly, we are so grateful for all the work you do for our community!

Revolving Fund Summit

Historic Macon, with generous support from The 1772 Foundation, hosted 100 guests from 26 states in Macon this month for the Revolving Fund Summit. The forum gathered community leaders from across the country to learn about creative and entrepreneurial real estate development tools and how these tools leverage community revitalization. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the unique community building work in Macon. And it’s clear that Macon has 100 new fans. Knight was pleased to host a community discussion with James Fallows, a national correspondent for The Atlantic. He spoke on “Eleven signs a city will succeed,” and it was exciting to hear how many of the 11 we possess in Macon.
 
Knight Media Forum

For the 11th year, Knight Foundation hosted the Knight Media Forum in Miami. The Forum provides a unique platform for bringing together foundation, media and technology leaders for collaborative action within their communities. This years’ conversation focused on how to strengthen trust, media and democracy in the digital age. Thanks to leaders from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia and Middle Georgia Regional Library for making the trip south to Miami!
 
Continuing education for foundations

I had the pleasure of attending what I call “Grant-making 101 school” (Southeastern Council of Foundations’ Essential skills and strategies for grant-makers) with two of my newest friends in our local grant-making community: Tonja Khabir of the Griffith Foundation and Darius Maynard of Community Foundation of Central Georgia. It was a bonus that Kathryn Dennis (CFCG president) served as a member of the program’s distinguished faculty!

The star teacher and her students at the Southeastern Council of Foundation’s Essential Skills and Strategies for Grant-makers class. Photo courtesy of Community Foundation of Central Georgia.
Upcoming Knight-related Opportunities
 
K880 Emerging City Champions application opens March 5

The K880 Emerging City Champions Fellowship is for young people on the cusp of making transformative impacts in their cities. The program provides up and coming civic leaders with funding and support to launch one project that will enhance public space, urban mobility and civic engagement in their city. Applications open March 5. 8 80s Cities will host a Facebook live webinar on March 14 at 12 p.m. to answer questions from anyone interested in applying. Keep an eye on Knight Macon’s Twitter feed @knightmacon for date/times of local meetups where you will have the opportunity to meet local ECC alums.
 
Downtown Challenge: Deadline March 15

If you have a great idea for downtown, I encourage you to apply for the Downtown Challenge Grant. The next deadline to apply is March 15! Apply here.

Let's Do Lunch

Young professionals can go beyond "the usual swap of the business card" at the launch event of Let's Do Lunch on March 21 at Piedmont Brewery. The pop-up lunch experience and platform is designed to encourage meaningful relationships among the next generation of Macon influencers. Register here.

Small Business Day: April 7

Get resources and education to launch your small business on Small Business Day, a free one-day event. More than 100 local volunteers will guide attendees through the startup process. Register here.

We invite you to join us and our community partners for these upcoming events:

March 1-4: Friends of the Library 50th Annual Old Book Sale at Central City Park.

March 2: First Friday in Downtown Macon. Gallery receptions, soul spots, maker opportunities, restaurant deals and more!

March 5: K880 Emerging City Champions applications open.

March 5: Mill Hill Open House of Blues at the Mill Hill Community Arts Center.

March 6: Deadline for ideas for Knight Prototype Fund focusing on arts and technology.

March 8: Night with the 2018 Emerging Artists at Museum of Arts and Sciences.

March 11: Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool presented by The Macon Film Guild.

March 13: Fabian Concert Series presents David Finckel and Wu Han at Fickling Hall, Mercer University.

March 14: K880 Emerging Cities Champions Facebook Live Webinar at 12 p.m.

March 15: Downtown Challenge deadline.

March 16-25: Macon, Georgia’s International Cherry Blossom Festival.

March 20: Open Streets Macon Community Info Session at Historic Macon Foundation.

March 21: Let’s Do Lunch at Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen.

March 23: Ben-Hur at Grand Opera House.

March 25-26: Cotton Avenue Revival Festival in downtown Macon.

Every second Saturday: Drum circles at the Tubman Museum.

Every second Saturday: Macon Film Guild viewings at the Douglass Theatre.

Every week: Art classes at The 567 Center for Renewal.