Art can be found scattered throughout the City of Atlanta. The yearly art expo, “Elevate”, provides an eclectic showcasing of local artist and special performances. As the art district continues to expand, this year’s theme is For Ever I Love Atlanta, which symbolizes the community’s pride for Atlanta. Murals and sculptures canvas the city, providing a splash of character and color to the streets.
The Annual Art show
“Elevate” creates an interactive experience from the artist to the community. Throughout downtown, Atlanta artists have turned the streets into a work of art with abstract sculptures, wall murals and graffiti. The showcased expo started in 2011 and over the years, has become an even bigger event. Reported numbers of tourists and visitors were 13,313 people that came to Atlanta to enjoy local artwork, according to the Office of Cultural Affairs. As “Elevate” grew, so did its promotion and sponsorship, which means it began to get more funding. Today, “Elevate” showcases Atlanta’s art district and provides revenue.
What’s in Store
The nine day expo event is hosted by the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Performers and artists throughout the city of Atlanta will be coming together to show their Atlanta pride at the “Elevate” exhibits.
Block Party
“Elevate” will be having an reception which will feature exhibitions from The Art of Organized Noize, which fused together hip- hop, artwork, and more. The first event will be held on Oct. 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Gallery 72, located on 72 Marietta Street.
Art in the Park
From the canvas to the streets, the “Elevate” block party will kick off the nine day event. The event will be located at Woodruff Park on Oct. 16, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. This event will feature local artists, dance battles, live performances and more. What’s interesting about the block party is the Bent Frequency expo which will convert the Atlanta’s streetcar into a musical performance. As guests enter the streetcar they can expect to get a live musical performance.
LiFT Salon
Social activists, local artists and the community can come together to vocalize about social issues. The LiFT salon emphasizes being a place where people can express thoughts or ideas on trending topics. This event is geared towards motivating the youth and community to be active in events happening around Atlanta and want to change social issues. On Oct. 18, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. this event will be held at Gallery 72, located on 72 Marietta Street.
Sponsored By: The City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural affairs
The City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs was established in 1974, and today it’s still impacting the community through the arts. The yearly revenue for 2013 to 2014 that was reported by COA was $1,266,782.10, according to their website. This revenue goes towards funding major art programs such as Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, community organizations like Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta, events like the Atlanta Jazz Festival and more. As the art district continues to grow, it creates more revenue and community involvement within the city.
