Authentic Vibrancy in the Heart of the City

Throughout 2021, Arts & Entertainment Atlanta (A&E Atlanta) continued to bring creative energy to Downtown Atlanta, highlighting the extraordinary work of commissioned artists and livening up the Downtown walls, streets, and sidewalks. Downtown is so much more than a place of business and commerce, and the A&E District is designed to offer an authentic vibrancy that uses art to demonstrate the cultural diversity of our community, the spirit of our residents and business owners, and the tenacity and resilience of the people that live, work, and play in the community. Activating these spaces through outdoor media, local art, and advertising helps to redefine Downtown and provides artists a platform to display their vivid ideas and spur conversation, excitement, and reflection. 

A&E Atlanta is proud to showcase the caring spirit and creative energy that makes Downtown the city’s true heart.

In its second year, A&E Atlanta supported over 43 artists engaged in programming efforts such as The South Got Something to Say outdoor exhibition; community messaging supporting social justice and COVID-19 education; and Local Stories, a unique storytelling effort to share lesser-known stories of Atlanta using our digital platform. 

Expanding on its grant program established in 2020, A&E Atlanta increased funding for grantees from $50,000 to $100,000. In 2021, grants were awarded to ten artists and arts organizations, representing a diverse spectrum of creative talent. The program furthers A&E Atlanta’s mission of enhancing the vibrancy of Downtown by championing local arts and culture. A&E Atlanta is dispersing $100,000 to its new grantees, which will support vital operations and the development of multidisciplinary projects to be realized throughout 2022.

2022 & BEYOND: AMBITIOUS NEXT STEPS

Now entering its third year of programming, A&E continues to find new ways to highlight art and culture in Downtown by supporting Atlanta artists and expanding the creative landscape of the community.  Four new activation sites are in the queue for early 2022. We will feature even more public arts and culture programming as we advance Atlanta art and artists in every way imaginable to add to the richness of Downtown.

Read more about A&E Atlanta on our website www.aeatlanta.com, and check out our 2021 accomplishments in the recently released Annual Report at https://aeatlanta.com/annual-report-2021/index.html

Established in 2017 by Atlanta City Council legislation, Arts & Entertainment Atlanta (A&E Atlanta) is a neighborhood activation and economic development project for Downtown Atlanta. A&E Atlanta fuses new media, local art, and performance with advertising to fund cultural and public space programming in the city’s core. A&E Atlanta is managed by the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) and self-funds its management and programming through revenue-sharing agreements with media companies within the A&E District. The program fuses new outdoor media, local art, and advertising, and also funds cultural and public space programming in the Downtown neighborhood. An Advisory Council is comprised of individuals that represent the community, including Downtown residents and business, entertainment, and arts + culture leaders.

This is sponsored content.