The Friends of the Rylander will host a grant-writing workshop for the 2009-2010 Grassroots Arts Program applicants at 10 a.m. Sept. 23 in Americus at the Rylander Theatre. This workshop is open to new and returning applicants and will provide more information on the Grassroots Arts Program and answer questions about eligible projects and how to prepare the application. Applicants are encouraged to attend the workshop; reservations are requested.

The Grassroots Arts Program supports arts projects in every county in the state of Georgia and is funded by the Georgia General Assembly. The Friends of the Rylander through the Southwest Georgia GAP partner administers the grant for the Georgia Council for the Arts for 16 counties including Chattahoochee, Crisp, Dooly, Dougherty, Harris, Lee, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Terrell and Webster.

Projects funded in the past include murals, festivals, art and performance workshops, concerts and more. The Montezuma Downtown Development Authority and the Macon County Historical Society were awarded Grassroots Arts Grants to host a free movie series and to bring a theatrical performance for Macon County in 2009. The workshop will explain how the Grassroots Arts Program works, what types of programs are eligible for funding, and how to fill out the very simple application and final report forms. Any not-for-profit organization is eligible to apply to provide a community-wide art event or program.

Tony Phillips, GAP coordinator for the Averitt Center for the Arts Grassroots Arts Program in the Greater Statesboro Region will lead the workshop and answer participants’ questions. Phillips is a lifelong lover of the arts. He brings a broad background of profit and nonprofit experience to the Grassroots Arts Program.

Prior to working at the Averitt Center for the Arts, Phillips was the public relations and system-wide testing director for Bulloch County Schools, a staff training specialist in human resources at Georgia Southern University (GSU), and a program director for the division of continuing education at GSU. He has also written for a daily paper, teaches ballroom dancing and is a regional community theater director. He and his lovely wife Diane have one beautiful daughter, Madison, who is a freshman at Statesboro High School. Phillips presents a humorous yet informational workshop.

To make reservation or for more information please contract Brenda Burns at HYPERLINK "mailto:boxoffice@rylander.org"boxoffice@rylander.org or 229-931-0001. Grant Application forms and instructions may be downloaded from HYPERLINK "http://www.rylander.org"www.rylander.org under the GAP dropdown menu.