MACON, Ga. – Stephanie Fritz has joined the staff of Macon Arts Alliance, the local arts agency for Macon-Bibb County, as the non-profit organization’s special projects manager. She began work on January 6 and is heading up a new, grant-funded program to promote economic development in the creative industries. The program is funded by a two-year grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Fritz is a graduate of the New Media and Communications program of Middle Georgia State College and was a communications intern for Macon Arts Alliance in summer 2013. During Fall 2013, she worked as an embedded arts journalist with Art Matters: Engaging the Community through Embedded Arts Journalism, a partnership of Macon Arts Alliance and Mercer University’s Center for Collaborative Journalism.
“During my internship at Macon Arts Alliance, I really came to understand the role of the arts in community and economic development,” said Fritz. “I’m excited to take what I’ve learned and apply it to new programming that will provide resources to local artists who want to start or grow their businesses.”
The first phase of the new project will be a community-wide assessment to identify the artists and creative professionals living in Central Georgia. Through focus groups, surveys, and convenings, Macon Arts Alliance will develop new programming that provides resources to assist with the development and growth of creative businesses. Within a year, this information will be used to introduce professional development toolkits and workshops for creative entrepreneurs in Central Georgia.
“There are hundreds of artists, writers, designers and musicians that want to make a living and a life in Central Georgia,” said Jan Beeland, MAA’s executive director. “Now is the time to lay the groundwork for local artists to become the creative entrepreneurs who will create jobs and drive economic growth in the future.”
About Macon Arts Alliance
The mission of Macon Arts Alliance is to foster and support the advancement of arts and culture in Central Georgia. MAA is working to create an environment where arts and culture thrive and where Central Georgia is recognized as an unparalleled cultural destination. Macon Arts Alliance is the designated local arts agency of Macon-Bibb County.