Artists protest at Gold Dome

ATLANTA - Hundreds of artists converged on the Georgia Capitol on Monday, calling on state officials to not make Georgia the only state in the nation without a federally recognized arts council.

A budget plan that passed the Georgia House last week would eliminate the Georgia Council for the Arts.

Arts supporters said that would imperil not just state funding for theater, music, dance and museum programs, but more than $1 million in federal and nonprofit funding as well.

"I am just floored that Georgia would even entertain the idea of getting rid of the arts council," Marietta-based author and children's storyteller Cathy Kaemmerlen said.

"It is so short sighted."

Some 400 to 500 protesters - chanting, dancing and carrying colorful posters - arrived at the state Capitol Monday afternoon to rally against the cuts. They said arts funding is vital to the state's economy, and cutting it would increase Georgia's already high jobless rate.

If the council is eliminated, Georgia would be the only state in the nation without a state arts agency recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The council is a clearinghouse for state and federal moneys. The NEA is set to funnel $878,300 in federal

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