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(AP) -- A budget winding its way through Senate could eliminate the Georgia Council for the Arts - making Georgia the only state in the nation without such an arts agency.

The $17.8 billion budget passed by the House on Wednesday calls for the elimination of the council, which awards competitive
programming grants to groups across the state.  The council was slated for $890,735 in the governor's proposed fiscal 2011 budget, down from $2.32 million this year and $4.18 million as recently as fiscal 2008.  Atlanta arts leaders say the elimination of the GCA would be damaging, especially in terms of outreach to students in the metro area and across the state.

The only state arts support that would remain if the GCA is eliminated is $250,000 in granting funds that would be transferred
to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to administer.

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