Across Georgia, cities are increasingly recognizing that arts and culture are not simply amenities—they are essential infrastructure. From activating downtown spaces to attracting visitors and supporting small businesses, creative initiatives play a central role in community vitality.
In Perry, city leaders are putting those ideas into action through a strategic partnership with Georgia Tech as part of the newly launched Georgia Arts Innovation Network (GAIN), a pilot program designed to strengthen rural arts organizations and creative small businesses.
Supported by a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant, the initiative brings together municipal leadership, academic expertise, and local arts practitioners to build long-term sustainability within the creative sector while strengthening the role arts organizations play in community and economic development.
Perry’s involvement in the program grew out of its participation in the Georgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative (GEPC), offered by the Georgia Cities Foundation. The two-year, place-based economic development initiative helps cities reimagine and reinvest in their public spaces through strategic placemaking efforts.
During the collaborative, Alicia Hartley, downtown manager for Perry, and Holly Wharton, the city’s economic development director, were paired with Betsy McGriff, project manager at Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2) Center for Economic Research. McGriff served as a mentor during the program and was impressed with Perry’s downtown placemaking plan, identifying the city as an ideal partner for the GAIN pilot.
“Our connection with Georgia Tech really started serendipitously through the Placemaking Collaborative two years ago,” said Hartley. “That relationship continued to grow as we completed the program and began exploring new ways to support our local arts community.”
A Strategic Investment in Creative Infrastructure
City leaders recognized that while local arts organizations contribute significantly to community identity and quality of life, many face common challenges, including limited funding, staffing constraints, and capacity gaps in strategic planning, marketing, and long-term sustainability.
Rather than addressing those challenges in isolation, the city sought a collaborative solution.
Through its partnership with Georgia Tech, the GAIN pilot provides participating organizations with structured support, cohort-based learning, and access to university-led research and expertise. The program begins with a listening and assessment phase that identifies specific needs within the local arts ecosystem. From there, tailored workshops and collaborative sessions address topics such as:
- Organizational sustainability
- Business planning and operational efficiency
- Marketing and audience development
- Digital tools and innovation
- Arts-driven placemaking strategies
“We’ve been working on this concept for a couple of years,” said Caley Landau, program manager for GAIN and a marketing strategist at EI2. “Our team at Georgia Tech has been looking for ways to bring arts organizations more directly into the economic development conversation. They’re such an important part of what makes a city vibrant and a great place to live.”
Arts as a Catalyst for Downtown Vitality
The partnership aligns closely with Perry’s broader downtown and placemaking goals. Arts and cultural programming are proven tools for activating public spaces, increasing foot traffic, and strengthening a community’s sense of place.
By investing in arts organizations’ operational strength, Perry is strengthening the very institutions that bring performances, exhibits, festivals, and public art installations to life.
“Just knowing that a couple of arts organizations located here in Perry, like our local community theatre, are fully volunteer-run, we’re excited to help connect them with additional capacity-building resources,” said Hartley. “We also have other organizations and businesses in Perry that are arts-based that we think will benefit from the program and the support it provides.”
These experiences not only enrich residents’ lives but also contribute to economic activity by drawing visitors and supporting local businesses.
Program leaders emphasize that strong arts ecosystems create ripple effects—fostering civic pride, encouraging collaboration, and helping communities tell their stories in authentic and engaging ways.
Building a Collaborative Arts Ecosystem
One of the most significant outcomes of the GAIN pilot is the opportunity for arts organizations to learn from one another. The cohort model encourages collaboration rather than competition, allowing participants to share challenges, exchange ideas, and explore joint programming opportunities.
By connecting municipal leadership with university resources and local creatives, the initiative creates a three-way partnership that strengthens the broader arts ecosystem.
“Perry has been fantastic for agreeing to be a host, but this is for all of Middle Georgia,” said Landau. “We’re hoping for a regional effect by bringing these cities and organizations together so we can strengthen the entire ecosystem.”
Early feedback from participating organizations indicates strong enthusiasm for the program’s structured support and peer learning opportunities. For many groups, access to academic expertise and strategic guidance offers a new pathway to long-term sustainability.
A Model for Other Georgia Cities
Beyond its local impact, the partnership offers a replicable model for communities across the state. By leveraging higher education partnerships and external grant funding, cities can create innovative, resource-efficient strategies to support arts-driven development.
The collaboration demonstrates how municipalities can align cultural investment with broader economic and community goals, reinforcing the idea that the arts are not separate from development strategy but are integral to it.
“We’ve seen that cities want to have more arts integration with their placemaking efforts, but they’re not always connected with arts leaders,” said Landau. “We’re excited to help build those connections and bring additional resources to the arts community.”
Looking Ahead
While the pilot is still in its early stages, Perry leaders and partners are already looking toward long-term outcomes. The lessons learned through this initiative may inform future expansions of the Georgia Arts Innovation Network and inspire additional communities to explore arts-centered growth strategies.
For Perry, the message is clear: investing in creativity is investing in community.
“Perry wants to be a model city for other communities across the state,” said Hartley.
As cities across Georgia continue seeking innovative ways to strengthen downtown districts, attract residents, and foster inclusive growth, this partnership stands as a powerful example of how collaboration, research, and creativity can build stronger communities.
