Cultural Affairs Commission

The Department of Cultural Affairs is comprised of 8 staff members and an 18-member Cultural Affairs Commission. The commission, appointed by the Mayor and Aldermen, meets every other month to review programming. In addition, the commission meets once a year to recommend purchases of cultural services from eligible arts organizations. (Pictured from top left row: Antwan Lang, Tanet U. Taharka-Myers, Kristopher Monroe, Andrea Hall-Houston, Kareem McMichael, Darren Bagley-Heath. Second row: Barbara Essig, Courtnay Papy, Brea Cali, Linda Wilder-Bryan, Patrick Kelsey.)

The Cultural Affairs Commission’s mission is to foster innovative programming and services as a means of increasing the diversity and the quality of available artistic, cultural, and historical offerings, of raising the community’s awareness of the benefits gained from such programs, and of ensuring that those sectors are used to enrich the quality of life within the City of Savannah.

With an eye to the future of this community’s arts, culture, and historical life, the Mayor and Aldermen passed an ordinance on June 14, 1979, that established the Cultural Arts Commission (formerly known as the Savannah Arts Council). Mayor and Council charged the Commission with the responsibility of advocating for the creation, the promotion, and the expansion of the arts, culture, and historical opportunities to be enjoyed by residents and visitors of Savannah. As envisioned by the Mayor and Aldermen, the Commission would voice the concerns, the needs, and the desires of Savannah, concerning art, culture, and history.

2019 Cultural Affairs Commissioners

Darren Bagley-Heath
Lisa Clark
Eddie Edenfield
Barbara Essig
Linda J. Evans
Andrea Hall-Houston
Janice James
Patrick Kelsey
Jan Kramer
Alix Laincy
Kareem McMichael
Kristopher Monroe
Courtnay Papy
Sue Ruby
Tanet U. Taharka-Myers
Anne Allen Westbrook
Linda Wilder-Bryan
Debra Zumstein