By Eileen Tilson
The State of Georgia has filled three top positions in the arts and entertainment industry, as part of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Lee Thomas, former interim director of the agency’s Film, Music, and Digital Entertainment division has been promoted to director. Lisa Love, formerly director of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, becomes Director of Music Marketing and Development for the state. Also, the Georgia Council for the Arts moved under the GDRcD’s operational umbrella on the that date and its interim director, Karen L. Paty was named director by Gov. Nathan Deal. The GCA’s alignment with Georgia’s economic development agency was legislated by House Bill 264, and recommended by Gov. Deal as an enhancement of the state’s cultural identity and a way to tie together the arts with tourism and entertainment endeavors, both housed in Deptartment of Economic Development.
