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The Eastern Shore Art Center (ESAC) has received a $23,000 grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts to fund Exhibit, Outreach and Academy programs.

With these funds, ESAC will be able to continue offering highly accessible content, from the Annual Outdoor Art Show to affordable art education for the Eastern Shore and Mobile/Baldwin counties. This grant signifies that through this project, ESAC is making Alabama's communities stronger and our state's arts and culture sector more vibrant, according to a news release.

"Operational grants are invaluable to organizations like ours. While project grants are instrumental in developing new content and exploring new avenues to the arts, operational grants enable 501C3s to keep the lights on. From payroll to paper towels, grants like these are vital in maintaining a community art center. This operational grant through the Alabama State Council on the Arts provides the additional funds giving us the freedom to expend resources in innovative and creative ways," Academy Director Reanna Watson said.

In 2025, ESAC will be expanding its outreach programming into the beautiful, rural areas of Baldwin County and beyond. "We are excited to reach into the cities of Elberta, Bay Minette, and Atmore to provide dynamic visual and performing arts education," explains Watson. "From murals to public sculpture, it will be hard to miss ESAC's presence as we continue to create with our beloved community."

The grant is made possible through funding from an annual appropriation from the Alabama State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. This public support enables ESAC to reach new audiences, foster community development, provide the highest quality programming and demonstrate the importance of arts as a key component for quality of life in Alabama.