.The Baldwin County School District today announced it has been selected as a recipient of a $10,000 fine arts grant by the Georgia Department of Education (GADOE) aimed toward the expansion of fine arts programs in rural areas.

“We are very excited to use these funds to build upon the incredible success that we have already experienced with our fine arts program,” said Superintendent Dr. Noris Price. “We know how important the arts are toward providing a well-rounded education.”

GADOE is awarding a total of $270,000 to rural school districts to help them expand the fine arts opportunities available to their students. Nineteen rural districts are receiving START grants, which can be used to create or expand arts initiatives that significantly improve students’ access to the arts. The grants are part of the GADOE’s broader Partnership for Rural Grown initiative, which seeks to expand the resources available to public school districts in rural Georgia.

The Baldwin County School District has been a recipient of the coveted Best Community in Music Education award by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation, one of only six districts in the state to earn the distinction.