Woman Awarded Grant To Improve Artistic Quality Of Life In Bartow

CARTERSVILLE, GA -- The Bartow Public Art Researcher Grant has been awarded to Hannah Cook, of Rome, Gerogia, who will be tasked with improving the quality of life in Bartow County through art. The grant was awarded by the Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau, or CVB, board of directors.

“I genuinely believe my unique experience could be exactly what this grant needs to achieve the objectives,” Cook said. “As the only staff person at the Rome Little Theatre, I’m familiar with the process of juggling many projects at once and know the importance of genuine relationships over superficial business connections.”

As the recipient of the Bartow Public Art Researcher Grant, Cook is charged with building a countywide consensus among leaders, residents, artists and the corporate community of what a unified public art program should bring to the quality of life and economic vitality of Bartow County. In so doing, she will be calling on a wide range of people throughout the county to initiate discussions intended to lead to a comprehensive plan for the display and creation of public art countywide.

“The initiative is an outgrowth of the Art Walk that was installed in downtown Cartersville last year with funds obtained by the Cartersville Downtown Development Authority from a Vibrant Community Grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts,” CVB Executive Director Ellen Archer explained. “And, we already have an amazing cornerstone of public art with the sculpture garden surrounding the Booth Western Art Museum.”

While the Public Art Research Grant has a 12-month duration, the goal is that the researcher will successfully analysis other Georgia communities public arts programs and determine best practices; determine existing City or County ordinances that potentially impact a public arts program; recommend an organizational structure for a sustainable Bartow arts program, develop a database of local art resources and catalog potential grants and other funding sources for arts programming which will enhance public appreciation and contribute to sustained economic growth.

The director of the Rome Little Theatre since 2016, Cook holds a master of Arts in Communication Studies Degree from Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA and has extensive experience in professional creative positions. She was the creative team project manager for Dave Ramsey’s The Lampo Group, Nashville, TN and manager of special projects development and marketing for Word Entertainment, also of Nashville.

For more information or to contact Cook, call the Cartersville-Bartow County CVB at 770-387-1357.