Can you believe it is already April?

At this point, I do not know whether to expect showers, snow, hail, sideways wind, or a full sandstorm in Georgia. We are out here dressing for four seasons before lunch and calling it resilience.

As I find myself halfway into my second year as Executive Director, I should honestly qualify as one of the most experienced curveball catchers in the history of art administration. I have ducked, dodged, pivoted, prayed, recalculated, and kept moving in heels. Or flats. Depending on the emergency.

And baby, the plot has been plotting.

We have navigated rebuilding sponsorships, reshaping Arts in the Heart with a new footprint, facing the loss of city funding, working to secure a permanent endowment, traveling, moving, grooving, launching a podcast, and now doing the truly wild thing of introducing a brand new festival right in the middle of planning our biggest event of the year, Arts in the Heart of Augusta.

Why, you ask?

Whew. We will not even get into the origin story of how this landed in our laps, because some stories require snacks and a closed door. Let’s just say this one is going to be a movie.

On May 15 and 16, downtown Augusta is going to get real musical. The Augusta Music and Songwriter Festival is coming, and it is bringing some serious heat to the stage. We are talking about artists and performers that span genres, styles, and audiences. The goal is simple. Augusta must come outside and celebrate. Show up for the music. Show up for the artists. Show up for the energy of a city that deserves vibrant, memorable, high-quality cultural experiences.

My personal goal is to make it through all of this without further injuring myself.

That part is not a joke.

Somewhere in this chapter of life, my body has decided that falling, twisting something, or breaking a random bone is a reasonable side hobby. As I type this, I am walking around with three broken toes. Three. Not one. Not two. Three. A trio. A broken toe ensemble. Yet here I am, still pressing forward because the music will not be stopped and neither will I.

Now, broken toes and all, I promised myself I would be more intentional this year about talking clearly and consistently about what the Arts Council actually does. We are working to increase transparency and help people better understand how we serve the arts in Augusta, because a lot of folks know our events, but not always the full scope of our impact.

So let me say it plain.

The Greater Augusta Arts Council is here to advance arts and culture in this city in real, tangible ways. We support individual artists. We support arts organizations. We advocate for public art. We produce major cultural events. We connect creatives to opportunities. We help market arts activity across the region. We invest in the visibility, growth, and sustainability of the arts ecosystem here.

That means we do not just throw pretty parties and call it a day.

We produce Arts in the Heart of Augusta, one of the region’s signature festivals and a major economic and cultural driver for downtown. We support public art initiatives that shape how our city looks and feels. We manage opportunities that help artists and organizations get seen, get connected, and in some cases, get funded. We maintain an event calendar so the community can see what is happening. We offer an artist directory so creatives can be found. We provide tools and resources through the Creative Collaboration Resource Hub. We champion the idea that the arts are not extra. They are essential.

And all of that takes support.

So yes, Arts in the Heart is absolutely still happening downtown on the third weekend of September, just like it should. The fine artist application is already live, and the performer application will follow. Things are moving. The work is moving. We are moving.

But if you want to continue seeing this kind of programming in Augusta, then let me say this with love and a little seasoning: bring a plate with some ingredients on it.

Join the Arts Council.

Not in theory. Not in spirit only. For real.

Become a member. Submit your events to our calendar. Add yourself to the artist directory. Borrow tools and equipment. Share what we are doing. Show up. Tap all the way in.

Because the truth is, we can do more when more people are connected to the mission.

This is not about watching from the sidelines and saying, “That’s nice.” This is about helping build the kind of arts community we all claim we want. A visible one. A supported one. A thriving one. A bold one. A city where creativity is not treated like a luxury item but recognized as part of the heartbeat.

We are doing pretty things, with pretty people, in pretty ways.

But make no mistake. Behind the pretty is a whole lot of work, strategy, advocacy, grit, spreadsheets, grant-writing, problem-solving, and yes, occasionally limping.

Still, we move.

Welcome to April.

Let’s make it beautiful.