ATLANTA – State Representative Stan Gunter (R-Blairsville), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, today applauded the awarding of a $5,000 Project Grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) – a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development – to the Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival in support of the 2026 Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival in Union County. The grant is part of GCA’s fiscal year 2026 General Operating Support, Project and Arts Education Program funding.
“I’m proud to see GCA continuing to invest in the Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival, a cultural annual event in Union County, through this $5,000 grant in support of the 2026 festival in April,” said Chairman Gunter. “Their ongoing support helps preserve and celebrate the rich storytelling traditions of Appalachia while providing meaningful educational opportunities for our community. I applaud the dedicated work behind this festival and the role it plays in strengthening our cultural identity and connecting people through the arts.”
GCA recently announced over $1.3 million in competitive grant funding to be distributed across 49 counties through its General Operating Support, Project and Arts Education Program grants. These funds are made possible through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. Project Grants specifically support individual arts initiatives, such as exhibitions, theater productions, workshops for children and artist residencies. In total, GCA awarded 177 grants during its initial round of fiscal year 2026 funding. A full list of grantees may be found here.
GCA seeks to empower the arts industry in Georgia and artists around the state to cultivate healthy, vibrant communities that are rich in civic participation, cultural experiences and economic prosperity. As part of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Council for the Arts provides grant funding, programs and services statewide that support this industry, preserve cultural heritage and create increased access to meaningful arts experiences.
Representative Stan Gunter represents the citizens of District 8, which includes Towns and Union counties, as well as a portion of White County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2020 and currently serves as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Judicial, Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Economic Development & Tourism, Ethics, Health and Rules committees, as well as an Ex-Officio member of the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.
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