The Arts Development Council of Georgia (ADCG) will hold its next General Membership/Open Meeting at The Classic Center, Athens on Wednesday, August 1 at 9:00 a.m. The ADCG is continuing it's membership drive and hopes many new members will attend. The ADCG three-point mission is cultivating a thriving economic environment for the creative expression and appreciation for the arts through entrepreneurial development, education and marketing.

All artists are asked to bring a piece of their art (that they can hold in one hand) for a "show and tell" introduction exercise. Artists should be prepared to give a very brief talk on their art.

"We'll have a program that will require members participation," Anne Marie Winterhawk, Vice-Chair said. "This is just a great way for us to get to know each other."

The guest speaker will be Lisa Howard, President of the Middle Georgia Art Association (MGAA) in Macon. She will give a presentation about the work of her organisation, what they offer artists and their goals. The MGAA is a non-profit dedicated to the promotion of the visual arts in Middle Georgia. They sponsor scholarships, art classes, festivals and their gallery displays the works of their members. They also sponsor invitational exhibits of non-member artists.

ADCG membership has been established at a preliminary fee of $25 for artists/individuals, $100 for art advocates, and $100 or above for corporate sponsors. This fee will be reviewed in the future. Any artist - visual, theater, musician, craft maker, arts advocate or corporations interested in joining, please send a check made payable to the Arts Development Council of Georgia, attn: Treasurer Cary Fordyce, 305 Research Drive, Athens 30605-2795 and give your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. Membership applications are online at www.adcg.org,

For more information, call Bill Ronay (706) 342-8225 or Tina McCullough, at the Blue Bell Gallery, Comer (706) 783-4665 or Anne Jenkins, The Point of Art Gallery (706) 486-6808.