Art on the Atlanta BeltLine Open Call for Submissions

Community feedback drives fresh artistic opportunities for annual exhibition

ATLANTA – A request for proposals for Art on the Atlanta BeltLine’s ninth year has been released. Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) has issued an open call for artists to submit to the temporary exhibition which occurs annually on the Atlanta BeltLine’s open parks and trails. The exhibition this year will undergo significant structural changes driven by extensive community engagement and new leadership. Miranda Kyle, Arts and Culture Program Manager at ABI, joined the team in 2017 with a fresh approach to the exhibition.

“The vision for Art on the Atlanta BeltLine 2018 will break with the traditional template of prior exhibitions,” Miranda said. “We intend to be responsive to our Atlanta BeltLine communities, building on the strength of Atlanta’s rich history and culture and reflecting the intersectionality of Atlanta’s diverse art scene.”

Following several rounds of community engagement in late 2017, a draft Art on the Atlanta BeltLine program document was unveiled at a public meeting on January 25, 2018. The document serves as the first comprehensive cultural plan for ABI, and is the result of community input and feedback gathered over the life of the exhibition. It is intended to serve as a roadmap to a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient cultural ecosystem, in which all residents have a stake. Its strategies address current concerns, such as the economic and social challenges of living and working in Atlanta, and highlight opportunities to support a thriving cultural sector well into the future. The public had another opportunity to comment on the draft at the January meeting and feedback will be incorporated into the final document.

Artists, Collectives, and Professionals are invited to submit proposals that are well-researched, well-planned, and feasible. Submitting artists will apply to have their work featured in any of the following components of the exhibition:

• Atlanta BeltLine Walls – A two-week-long mural festival at the beginning of August. Artists will work on their walls side by side for the duration of the festival, culminating in a grand reveal and community celebration at the end of the festival.
• Performance Series – Artists are invited to perform along the Atlanta BeltLine corridor throughout the timeframe of the exhibition. These performances are not limited in number of times the performances may occur, nor are they subject to any specific dates on which performances must occur. These are designed to act as a pop-up style events to creatively activate and celebrate the corridor in many locations.
• Atlanta BeltLine Concert Series – Unlike its pop-up style counterpart, these may take place in several BeltLine parks including Historic Fourth Ward Park, Gordon White Park, the multipurpose field at Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark, and Piedmont Park. The Concert Series provides opportunities for artists that have technical requirements, and those who need a fixed location. The dates for these will be: August 18th and 25^th, 2018.
• Inertia – Artists and Professionals are invited to submit proposals for this year’s sculpture exhibition along the Atlanta BeltLine corridor. Sculptures may simultaneously function as a bench, pavilion, or other infrastructural component.
• Lecture Series – Artists and Professionals are invited to submit proposals for panel or individual discussion to address topics related to Arts & Culture, Ethics & Responsibility, Equity, Affordability, Science & Education, and Transit.
• Special Projects – We invite Atlanta arts and culture organizations to submit proposals that use the Atlanta BeltLine to show your work/project, host a pop-up event, and many other exciting ideas.

Proposals are due March 16, 2018. Submissions will be accepted via art.beltline.org through callforentry.org. The complete proposal and more information is available at art.beltline.org.