Georgia College and State University (Sallie Ellis Davis Cultural Arts Center)

The Sallie Ellis Davis House will implement a pilot arts initiative to reach underserved audiences in central Georgia. The project will feature the visual art of prominent Atlanta-based African-American artist, Corey Barksdale, in conjunction with a live art demonstration; an interdisciplinary lecture series by campus art, history, and music professors; and a community-wide art exhibit featuring the work of local K-12 students and adults with developmental disabilities. A community study revealed that 87 percent of community members in Milledgeville believe that arts and cultural activities are not sufficiently available to them and those that are fail to reflect the interests and demographics of the community. This project will increase awareness of the museum as an integral cultural institution, attract new audiences, foster an interdisciplinary environment that sparks dialog about community issues, and increase K-12 students' understanding of African-American artwork. Results will be measured through community participation and visitor attendance as well as reflective journals from K-12 participants in the community art show.