Georgia Council for the Arts is inviting communities to apply to participate in the 2026 Red Clay Creative Cohort (RC3), a new program that puts creative people at the center of community life. Five communities will be selected to implement arts-based projects in their hometown.

The 2026 Cohort will convene in Macon for a kickoff from June 1-2, 2026. Participants will return home with funding and support to put what they learned into practice. Projects must then be implemented by October 2026.

By centering artists as leaders and collaborators, communities will explore how creative approaches can:

• Activate public spaces.
• Strengthen local identity and storytelling.
• Expand access to arts and culture.
• Support economic vitality and community well-being.

Educational sessions will be facilitated by Springboard for the Arts, a national leader in artist-centered community development.

Participating Communities Receive:

• Up to $20,000 to fund public art/creative placemaking project(s) that must be implemented by October 2026.
• Up to $5,000 for travel and stipends.
• Support from Springboard for the Arts to plan and implement those projects.
• Connection to a statewide peer network of communities engaged in similar initiatives.
• Hands-on training in how to find, hire, and partner with local creatives.

To view the full application guidelines, click here.

Eligibility

Nonprofit organizations, municipality/city government, county government, public school/college/university, or other public entity.

The Red Clay Cohort should involve active, engaged community members who know their community and want to see it thrive, including, but not limited to, local officials or their staff, downtown managers, library directors, faith leaders, neighborhood association members, local business owners, or school principals. No prior experience with arts programming is required.

How to Apply

Applications may be submitted via the application form, found here.

Contact

Have questions? Contact Georgia Council for the Arts Rural and Community Programs Manager Tyrone Webb at twebb@gaarts.org.

Deadline

The application deadline is April 28, 2026, at 11:59pm.