*****Author’s Note: The following post was published on May 13, 2018 and has not been updated since its initial publication. As this post was written as part of a bigger, older project that has already ended, I do not intend on updating this post with new information about the organizations featured in it. This means some or all of the information in this or other posts in this series may be outdated by the time you read this post.
If you need the latest information on these organizations, it is your responsibility to conduct that research on your own. These posts can be used as a jumping off point for that research, but it is still your responsibility to look up these organizations on your own to verify whether or not their services still exist or will actually work for your needs.
***This blog post is the start of what will be a weekly series titled #SignalBoostSunday. This series will highlight organizations and social causes that are of importance and provide assistance to the Greater Atlanta area. ***
It can be difficult when you’re just starting out as a creative. Some days, just being able to find time to practice your craft, can be a struggle.
But whether you’re just starting out or have been at it for awhile, whether your medium is oil on canvas or audio files, access to a supportive network of your peers can be an invaluable resource as you develop a career as a creative.
The following five organizations are located in the Greater Atlanta area and offer resources and services to local artists to help foster their careers.
The Atlanta Artists Center was established in 1954. Members of the AAC have access to benefits such as juried exhibitions, artists talks and demonstrations and special rates for art classes and workshops.
The AAC also offers a series of enrichment events called “Common Interest Groups” which are groups in which members and non-members can meet with fellow local artists, usually while engaging in an art-related educational activity. One notable example of a Common Interest Group is the AAC’s Painting Critiques group. This group involves artists presenting their work to receive “friendly, encouraging and supportive feedback.”
2.) C4 Atlanta
C4 Atlanta’s vision is written simply and perfectly sums up their purpose: “Our vision is for Atlanta artists to earn a living making art.”
They pursue that vision by offering a variety of services to artists which include: professional development courses, co-working spaces and networking events.
For artists seeking to fund their projects and/or make a living from their craft, C4 Atlanta’s professional development courses may be particularly helpful. Many of the courses focus on topics such as business strategy, marketing, budgeting and fundraising.
3.) The Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for Art and Learning
Located in Duluth, Georgia, The Hudgens Center for Art and Learning is best known for its art classes and free-admission galleries. Lesser known is the center’s outreach to local artists. The two best examples of the Hudgens Center’s support of emerging and working artists are its smART Honors program and the Hudgens Prize.
The smART Honors program is a months-long arts education program for Gwinnett County high school students that provides mentorship, experience and ends with an exhibition. During the program, the students will create artist statements, bodies of work and develop a team project.
The Hudgens Prize is an annual art competition which involves awarding a single winner with $50,000 and their own exhibition. The competition is open to artists ages 18 and over.
4.) re:imagine/ATL
Re:imagine/ATL is a particularly unique organization on this list because it primarily serves teenage creatives who are interested in digital media such as music, film and even podcasting.
Networking events, classes, internships, job shadowing and summer camps are among some of the resources offered to teens who are serious about pursuing careers in digital media. A number of these enrichment events are free, while some of them, like the workshops and camps may have a registration fee.
5.) WonderRoot
You can’t really talk about WonderRoot without mentioning its Community Arts Center. It has a pretty comprehensive list of resources for all kinds of local artists: a ceramics studio, a darkroom, a community library filled with art-themed books, a recording studio, a digital media lab and a screen printing studio.
And that’s not all. WonderRoot even provides classes, legal aid workshops, and youth programs. Their adult art classes are called “Artists Helping Artists.” These classes are taught by professional artists and are offered on a “sliding scale” basis which allows students to pay a fee that is appropriate for their own financial situation, to make the classes more affordable for all.
Anita M. George: Journalist, Writer 