Weiner, Georgia Council for the Arts leader, resigns

By Howard Pousner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Susan Weiner, Georgia Council for the Arts executive director, has resigned, according to a GCA announcement released late Wednesday night.

Appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue in 2004, Weiner resigned after making "an assessment of the goals and objectives of the agency," according to the release.

Gov. Nathan Deal has proposed an organizational shift for the state's arts granting agency, moving from the governor's office to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Deal’s proposed fiscal 2012 budget cuts the GCA’s funding from $790,735 this year to $566,730. It is one of many state agencies that will be trimmed or eliminated because of shortfalls caused by the difficult economy.

The GCA’s state funding has been on a steep decline since peaking in 2002 at $4.5 million. Deal’s proposed allotment is on par with state arts funding in the late 1970s, and Georgia has ranked near the bottom nationally in its arts support in recent years.

A replacement for Weiner, who was Savannah's mayor from 1992 to 1995, has not been named.