AthFest Educates has announced the organization’s latest round of grant awards.
Some $66,000 will be distributed to 19 local educators and art educators to support music and arts education for youth in the Clarke County School District. Mary Joyce is Executive Director of the nonprofit.
“We’re so excited for our 2025 to 2026 grantees,” Joyce said. “We received more applications than we ever have and there are some incredible projects happening. We’re thrilled to be able to distribute over $66,000 for arts education projects this year.”
Joyce said the funding went to a variety of projects and programs.
“We have three different areas of funding, we have nonconsumable equipment, so this is things like digital pianos, kilns for pottery studios,” according to Joyce. “We have programs and experiences, so this would be attending performances, having a local artist come in for a week to do a workshop with students. And then we have professional development for our educators to be able to attend conferences, continue education training.”
AthFest Educates is supported by donations, grants and its two largest fundraisers, the AthFest Music and Arts Festival which took place in June, and the upcoming AthHalf Half Marathon and 5Kscheduled for October 11th and 12th. To date, AthFest Educates has awarded more than three-quarters of a million dollars.
