The Savannah Cultural Arts Center's Spotlight grant could open the door for local nonprofits

This is an opinion column by arts and entertainment editor Zach Dennis

Early in March, in the midst of a bustling return of cultural festivals in Savannah from the pandemic, the Savannah Cultural Arts Center (SCAC) partnered with Georgia Southern University for a one-off show as part of the university's "On the Verge" concert series.

The show, which featured a performance by Savannah native and professional violinist Adrianne Munden-Dixon, re-worked the 338-seat Ben Tucker Theater into an open floor plan; chairs were situated in rows rather than the normal stadium configuration and several stations were placed circular around the seats.

The stations were key to the performance: Munden-Dixon began at the front of the theater, but shifted between the different stations in an effect that — coupled with her music selections — created a unique experience for each piece and how attendees engaged with them.

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The performance was not only wonderful to listen to, but also an example of something that residents of New York, Chicago or even Atlanta have grown accustomed to in their arts communities but is wholly unique for Savannah. A modern classical concert with an avant-garde approach is not the norm for musical performances here.

It also provided a looking glass into what could be at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center, a space that gets passed by for other venues in town but continues to cultivate fascinating shows and events from its perch on 201 Montgomery St.

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This fall, organizations such as the 100 Black Men of Savannah, DOC Savannah, the Tybee Ballet Theatre and the Savannah Repertory Theatre provided the same level of unique programming at the Cultural Arts Center, but with a free or reduced rate through the city's special use grant.

The crazy thing is, you don't have to be Georgia Southern to push the limits at SCAC — you just need to fill out a form.

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While SCAC has been open since 2019, the Spotlight grant is fairly new with the first three recipients just recently completing their programs. The City of Savannah's cultural resources director Stuart Miller said the program is something his team developed in house to help fulfill their mission of expanding the arts and culture scene to new audiences.

"We didn't have a model for it, we saw a need," he said. "We created the program so that we would be able to be inclusive of any group that wanted to use the space."

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The grant is offered to any nonprofit organization in town, allowing them to use the professional equipment and venue space at SCAC for a free or discounted rate. Miller said the program will be working in two cycles per year — one in the spring and another in the fall/winter.

This cycle, the grant was awarded to 100 Black Men of Savannah, DOC Savannah, Tybee Ballet Theatre and the Savannah Repertory Theatre. Interested parties submit an application, which also works as a proposal of the event, and the winners are selected by members of the cultural resources staff.

The grant awards each group access to resources at the center and use of either the Ben Tucker Theatre or the Studio Theatre, including one performance, technical and dress rehearsals, an audio/visual technician and SCAC staff such as a manager, front desk person and cleaning crew for the event.

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Miller said the normal rental rates for both theaters is relatively affordable in terms of the landscape of venues in Savannah, but the overall goal is to allow new and emerging groups to engage in the space in new and exciting ways. "The idea behind the (Savannah Cultural Arts Center) in general is accessibility. So that includes financial accessibility."

Ryan McCurdy, executive director of the Savannah Repertory Theatre, said that financial accessibility was a massive asset to its program in October as it allowed people who had never been to a Savannah Rep show to engage with the organization.

"We did not know almost 80% of our audience, which is exactly what we were hoping for. There were so many new names, so many new faces. People with vastly wide arts background, really interesting stories and I think that's kind of what Spotlight has the power to do by subsidizing you enough that you can take ticket sales out of the equation... there was no financial barrier to people."

Savannah Rep hosted the nationally-recognized 24 Hour Plays series through its Spotlight grant and saw so much success with it that McCurdy said the New York-based organization is already asking when they can come back to Savannah. "Honestly, if the city hadn't announced those grants, I don't know that we would have gotten that specific programming up, because it would have been one more financial hurdle we may not have been able to jump," he added.

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"I think there's so many nonprofits that are going to benefit from (Spotlight) as being able to help them realize different parts of the mission... I suspect (Savannah Rep is) going to try to put an application in every year now."

Miller said other organizations, such as 100 Black Men of Savannah, saw great turnout and success with their event. "They were delighted by not just the opportunity to perform the show for a bigger audience, but to perform it in that kind of professional space," he said.

"It gives smaller arts and culture groups the chance to showcase their performances on a first-rate stage with first-rate audio/visual capabilities."

For groups interested in applying for the Spotlight grant, visit the City of Savannah's cultural resources page online or search for Savannah Cultural Arts Center on Google. The spring cycle includes dates in February, March, April and May to select from.

The deadline for the spring applications is Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. Guidelines for the application can be found on the Spotlight page at savannahga.gov.

Zach Dennis is the editor of the arts and culture section, and weekly Do Savannah alt-weekly publication at the Savannah Morning News. He can be reached at zdennis@savannahnow.com or 912-239-7706.