Atlanta BeltLine to be awarded $20,000 NEA grant

October 14, 2016 Atlanta: Monique Lee of College Park enjoyed the weather Friday, Oct. 14, 2016 as she rode her bike along the BeltLine near Piedmont Park. The mural behind her was painted by artist, is Alex Brewer, also known as the artist Hense. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

October 14, 2016 Atlanta: Monique Lee of College Park enjoyed the weather Friday, Oct. 14, 2016 as she rode her bike along the BeltLine near Piedmont Park. The mural behind her was painted by artist, is Alex Brewer, also known as the artist Hense. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership will receive $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the BeltLine announced Wednesday.

BeltLine officials said in a statement that the money will go toward its “Art on the Atlanta BeltLine” public art exhibition.

“The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership appreciates the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts,” said Rob Brawner, Atlanta BeltLine Partnership executive director in a statement. “Art on the Atlanta BeltLine provides access to public art for everyone and is representative of the broad public/private partnerships that are necessary to bring the Atlanta BeltLine vision to life. We’d also like to thank Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) for their leadership and vision in creating what has become the south’s largest temporary public art exhibition and one of Atlanta’s most popular public art events.”

Twenty three Georgia organizations will be awarded grants of between $10,000 and $40,000, through the NEA’s Art Works and Challenge America programs. The BeltLine Partnership is receiving an Art Works grant.

Art Works grants are given to entities, “that celebrate our creativity and cultural heritage, invite mutual respect for differing beliefs and values,” the NEA said in a statement. Similarly, Challenge America grants support arts organizations that serve communities that have limited access to regular arts programming whether by economics, ethnicity, disability or geography, according to the NEA.

Georgia groups received a total of $405,000.

There is at least one first-time awardee in this grant cycle, Atlanta’s Out on Film Festival, which focuses on the LGBTQ community. The organization will get $10,000. True Colors Theatre Company will be awarded one of the largest grants, $40,000.