After 10 years of providing comprehensive coverage of the arts in Atlanta, Atlanta-based nonprofit ArtsATL.com has rebranded and relaunched as ARTSATL.org. They will retain the comprehensive arts coverage and criticism that their audience depends on but will now also be developing a host of educational programs to further support, sustain, and grow Atlanta’s diverse and impactful arts.   

Along with the new digital offering of ARTSATL.org and rebrand, ARTS ATL also announced an Artist Advisory Council comprised of successful and respected Atlanta artists and insiders, new original multimedia content, dozens of programs to support Atlanta-based arts and artists, as well as a new donation platform that will allow all people to help support the arts in Atlanta and receive rewards in return.

ARTSATL.org Publisher Van Jensen explains, “from early on, ARTS ATL has existed as a nonprofit, so switching our domain from ArtsATL.com to ARTSATL.org represents an embrace of who we’ve always been, a dedication to our mission, and a reminder to our readers that we need their support to help fund these programs to further support  the arts in our city.” He continues, “We’ll soon be launching some exciting new things including a comprehensive arts calendar, arts-centric podcasts, and original video content highlighting this city’s arts. But the thing we’re excited most about is that, with the support of the David, Helen and Marian Woodward Fund, we will be building the Artist Resource Hub. This will serve as a virtual library for Atlanta’s emerging and active artists, compiling in one place the many open grants, resources, and open job postings.”

Executive Editor Scott Freeman adds, “The foundation of ARTS ATL is solid, professional journalism and we will carry that tradition forward with our new website. What excites me is that we're taking that foundation and building upon it to make it more vibrant and multi-faceted. Our Film/TV section will have a makeover that focuses on the local industry. The music section will include more contemporary artists and will soon debut our acoustic "Unplugged Atlanta" music video series. The new "Passport" section will be an essential guide to the artistic side of Atlanta. Plus, Emmy Award-winning documentarian Felipe Barral will be creating mini-documentaries to be featured on our site. And this is just the beginning!”

“We understand that people who appreciate the arts exist in every tax bracket,” explained Nick Tapp, ARTS ATL’s Director of Marketing. “We wanted to make supporting the arts easier for everyone-no matter their income level. So, we’ve borrowed the rewards model of crowdfunding sites to provide donors a variety of rewards so they can publicly show that they support the arts. We are also introducing a recurring donation platform that starts at $5 per month, which is a huge help for our programs but not a huge burden for the donor.” 

ARTS ATL’s Board Chair Rachel Eisaman explains why the ARTS ATL mission, and the arts in general, matter. “Art is the voice of a people, the identity of a culture. Art is the shepherd of our stories and it infuses a sense of place to the inhabitants of the city. Art is essential to anchoring our identity as a powerful city rich in culture. It can move people to action, encourage conversation, and unite communities.” 

ARTS ATL is also hosting their third annual Luminary Awards this Sunday evening, Jan. 27, at City Winery. The Luminary Awards are Atlanta’s premier arts honors, celebrating the social impact, diversity, innovation, leadership, and generosity of the city’s creative community, and is the non-profit organization's largest annual fundraising event. All tickets purchased are fully tax deductible and are available for purchase online at www.ARTSATL.org. The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with a VIP cocktail reception. The gala continues with the awards ceremony and seated dinner from 6-9 p.m., with the bestowing of the Luminary Awards and dance, music, puppetry, and comedic performances.