handles. As time went on, handles were added, and the extended pinky
while drinking one’s tea became a sign of class and distinction.”
When Jen first took over as Director, she knew the place needed a
fresh coat of paint. “But upkeep on a 4000-square-foot century-old house
is no small expense. Funding for a 501c3 is ‘always a thing,’” she said
with a warm smile. “Most of the funding for day-to-day operations comes
from private donations, museum membership revenue, and corporate
sponsorships. We also receive some funding from the city of Vidalia.”
These funds enable the gallery to serve the community and visitors free of
charge. But if the present generation hoped to preserve the collections and
continue to bring in artistic opportunities, work would need to be done on
the largest item in the museum’s collection, the Brazell House itself.
P R E P A R I N G F O R T H E F U T U R E
“There’s a common misconception about grant funding for nonprofits,”
said Jen. “While there are many grants available for programming, to bring
in artists or host a particular class, for example, there are few available for
‘brick and mortar’ rehabilitation projects or operating funds. So, the ones
that do come out are highly competitive.”
By early 2020, the Brazell House needed much more than a fresh coat
of paint. Unmindful of the global pandemic and the economic disruptions
that ensued, deterioration on the 109-year-old Brazell House could not
74 TOOMBS COUNTY MAGAZINE
ABOVE Local architect Fred Dean
of Dean Architecture and Design
created the drawings to guide the
renovation project. BELOW Jennifer
was able to match the original ‘haint
blue’ color for the porch ceilings
when samples of it were found under
several layers of paint.