Some local music and arts programs will benefit from a live music event held around the county in May.
Last week, Ray Green, promoter of the Ellijay Songwriters Festival, presented two checks totaling almost $6,000 to Gilmer Arts and Gilmer County Schools.
Dr. Brian Ridley, Gilmer Schools superintendent; Pam Burns, Gilmer Arts director and Terry Ellis, Gilmer Arts board president, accepted the donation checks during a presentation at the Gilmer Arts Gallery.
The monetary donations were made possible with proceeds from the first songwriter festival, which presented an array of Nashville and Georgia singer/songwriters performing at several of the county’s wineries and the George Link Jr. Gilmer Arts Playhouse. Green partnered with the Gilmer Chamber and Gilmer Arts to present the event.
“We hosted over 20 incredibly talented songwriters over three days. Thousands of local residents and visitors attended,” Green said.
Gilmer Arts received $3,900, which will be used to present different types of arts programs, Burns noted. Gilmer Schools received $1,800, which will benefit various school music programs.
Green, who promotes several other singer/songwriter events, said he always likes to donate a portion of the proceeds to local causes.
“Ray Dog Productions and our partners are honored to always include philanthropic efforts during our events in the communities we serve,” he said.
The 2024 Ellijay Songwriters Festival is already being planned and will happen next May and June, Green said.