The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs announces the return of ELEVATE, which will celebrate five decades of art and culture this year. Set to take place on the weekends between Friday, September 20 and Sunday, October 13, 2024, ELEVATE: 50 Years of Culture will offer the public the opportunity to engage with a dynamic lineup of cultural events.

The events featured, which showcase the influence the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs has had on the arts in Atlanta include:

• Opening Event: How it All Began -A Conversation on 50 Years of Culture

  Date: September 20, 2024

  Time: 5:00 PM

  Location: Hill Auditorium, High Museum of Art

  The ELEVATE: 50 Years of Culture Festival will kick off with a compelling panel discussion led by esteemed cultural historian Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado. Join former Mayor Shirley Franklin, Michael Lomax, and Rob Rivers as they delve into the origins and evolution of the Office of Cultural Affairs. This engaging conversation will explore the pivotal moments that have shaped Atlanta’s cultural landscape over the past five decades. 

• A Day in the Park with the Arts: A Kids Festival

  Date: September 21, 2024

  Time: 1:00 PM

  Location: Piedmont Park Promenade

  Celebrate art and creativity with the whole family at A Day in the Park with the Arts. This vibrant kids' festival will feature the Imagination Station hosted by MODA, a 20'x40' interactive art experience designed to inspire young minds. Enjoy a captivating Drum Call and Dance performance by the Ailey Kids, an improvisation experience by Dad’s Garage, followed by an energetic live show by Divinity Roxx at 3:00 PM. The event will also include a book giveaway and a Healthy Foods Snack Table to keep everyone nourished and entertained.

• 50 Years of Atlanta Cinema

  Date: September 22, 2024

  Time: 3:00 PM

  Location: Plaza Theatre

  Join us for a cinematic journey through five decades of culture in Atlanta. Through a series of short films, documentaries and feature films, attendees will explore the diverse voices and moments that have contributed to Atlanta's dynamic cultural landscape.

• Steele Bridge Art Installation / Take It to the Bridge

  Date: September 27, 2024

Time: 5:00 PM

Location: Steele Bridge
Explore the Steele Bridge Art Installation featuring 35 fine art reproductions from Atlanta’s permanent collection. This exhibition serves as a visual celebration of the city’s rich artistic heritage, showcasing works displayed in public spaces throughout the city. The event also doubles as a networking opportunity for Atlanta artists, with music provided by DJ Selorm Attikpo, in partnership with France-Atlanta and Villa Albertine.

• Sister City Mural Unveiling in collaboration with

The Mayor's Office of International & Immigrant Affairs

Date: September 28, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: The Underground

Join us for the unveiling of a new mural "Old Tunes Awaken the Young Spirit" by artist Chinemerem Omeh from Lagos, Nigeria in Underground Atlanta.

• Art in Freedom Park: Jamaal Barber and Alex Brewer

On View from September 29, 2024

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation, will once again showcase new sculptural artworks as an initiative of the ELEVATE Arts Festival in Freedom Park. The featured sculptors this year are artists Jamaal Barber and Alex Brewer. The artworks will be displayed along the east-west section of Freedom Park between Highland Avenue and the Beltline intersection and remain for one year. This is part of the City’s Temporary Sculpture Program, which began in 2009 and provides new opportunities for Atlanta artists to display public sculptures annually.

• Ugo Rondinone Unveiling

Date: October 4, 2024

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: Freedom Park

Councilmember Amir Farokhi and The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs invite you to celebrate the installation of The Splendid, a sculpture by contemporary artist Ugo Rondinone. The sculpture resides along the Freedom Park Trail, parallel to North Highland Avenue NE, and is a welcome addition to the public artwork in Freedom Park. The sculpture was acquired through the Renew Atlanta Infrastructure Bond’s Landmark Public Art initiative. 

• Mayor’s Gallery: Master Artists Series Remembered Exhibition

Date: October 4, 2024

Time: 6:30 PM

Location:  Mayor’s Gallery at City Hall
Held as part of the Art Soiree, this exhibition revisits the legacy of the Master Artists Series that was held annually at City Gallery East. The series showcased the works of highly skilled professional artists who have significantly contributed to the visual arts scene in Atlanta and beyond. This event will celebrate their enduring influence and the city's commitment to fostering artistic excellence.

• Sister City Mural Unveiling in collaboration with

The Mayor's Office of International & Immigrant Affairs

Date: October 5, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: South Broad Street

Join us for a celebration of the restoration of "Flag" by Tilt from Toulouse, France. 

• The Underground Quilt 2024

Date: October 5, 2024

Time: 12:00 PM

Location: The Underground 

Come witness the first annual painting of Underground's outdoor gallery, featuring a series of murals re-activating Underground’s blank walls under the historic Peach Drop tower. The event will include a Mini Mural Fest with live painting, vendor booths, entertainment, refreshments, and after-parties.

• Virtual Gallery: 50 Years of Culture Memorabilia Exhibition

  Date: October 5, 2024

Time: 2:00 PM

Location: Digital

This exhibition honors the establishment of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs (now the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs) during Mayor Maynard Jackson’s groundbreaking first term, highlighting its lasting influence on Atlanta's cultural evolution.

• Gallery 72: All That Jazz Exhibition

Date: October 6, 2024

Time: 2:00 PM

Location:  72 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30303

This exhibition showcases over 40 years of Atlanta’s commitment to jazz, featuring posters from both the Atlanta Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival. The collection highlights the extraordinary artists and designers who have contributed to the visual legacy of these iconic events, offering a rare glimpse into the history of jazz culture in Atlanta.

• Ryan Gander Unveiling

Date: October 11, 2024

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: Grant Park 

Councilmember Jason Winston and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs invite you to celebrate the newest addition to the public art collection. Things just happened to him, a sculpture by contemporary artist Ryan Gander, was recently installed in Grant Park just outside the pedestrian entrance to the parking garage on Boulevard. This artwork provides the opportunity to view internationally renowned contemporary art to all Atlantans. The sculpture was acquired through the Renew Atlanta Infrastructure Bond’s Landmark Public Art initiative. 

• 50 Years, 50 Partners, 50 Experiences

  As part of the 50th-anniversary celebration, Atlanta is giving back to the community with free access to 50 cultural venues. In collaboration with 50 arts partners, we are offering 2,500 free tickets to various cultural events throughout the fall. This is your chance to experience the best of Atlanta’s arts scene.

The vision of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ is to enhance the quality of life through arts and culture, and to contribute positively to the social and economic health of Atlanta and the region. Our mission is to promote rich, diverse, and educational cultural experiences; nurture artists and arts organizations; preserve and protect the city’s cultural heritage; and expand Atlanta’s international reputation. The ELEVATE Atlanta Public Art Festival is a program of the City of Atlanta - Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.