The former Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts in Tallulah Falls, a nonprofit arts organization that housed a gallery and area for artist demonstration, is undergoing some changes.

The organization, which has more than 150 members, is now called the Georgia Heritage Arts Association, and will discontinue the artist demonstration aspect of its operations within the Tallulah Falls building where it is housed.

Artist demonstration will continue, however, in a new Helen co-op, where the association will allow artists to rent space for demonstration and display their work. Co-ops in Royston and other locations will also be added later.

Another location for the association, its Education Building in Clarkesville, will stay open, and classes including Middle Eastern dance and painting will continue.

The office of Deb Goatcher, the director of the organization, will also be at the Education Building.

One of Goatcher's main goals, said Hampton, is to begin using the Internet to promote artists and art-based businesses, eventually producing a newsletter in which artists can share information.

"We've got a great organization," said Jaymi Hampton, the association's CEO. "It's just that we have to make the right decisions and move forward (with) what's best for the artists."

As of now, the Tallulah Falls location will remain the headquarters of the association through December of this year, although Hampton said the headquarters may move at a later date.

Now an "umbrella organization," the arts association will "provide services to numerous satellite locations, art studios, galleries and arts-based businesses and organizations," said Hampton.

The Helen location, called the GHAA Co-op, will open Nov. 1 in the Alpine Shopping Center. Artists can join the association for $100, and space rental for will be $1 per square foot at the co-op, with higher rates for artists who cannot volunteer in the gallery. For more information, e-mail, jaymih@windstream.net.