Enriching the street-level experience through art.
Regarded as Atlanta's hub for visual and performing arts, Midtown is anchored by an array of museums, attractions, and cultural venues. It is also a place where art enriches the urban experience on the sidewalk and in public spaces.
Through the Heart of the Arts initiative, exploring Midtown becomes an even more dynamic experience where art enriches the public realm and artists, makers, and entrepreneurs are featured prominently at the street level. Storefronts come alive by hosting art installations, studio space and galleries.
The Heart of the Arts initiative unites Midtown Alliance with the creative community in an innovative, symbiotic relationship in which artists, creatives and arts organizations thrive and Atlanta’s arts economy benefits overall. Artists play prominent roles in facilitating community dialogue and in articulating shared stories and aspirations.
Storefront Art
By reimagining empty storefronts as exhibit spaces, we can generate artwork that lives in our neighborhood and creates a vibrant pedestrian experience. Learn about our first phase of exhibitions, the artists and where to see their work.
Artist Residencies
We are partnering with property owners to reposition underused space on their properties as artist workspace. Meet the artists in residence and see how this new effort opens avenues to embed artists in the Midtown community.
Public Art Commissions
Our public art strategy focuses on ephemeral, temporary installations, enabling us to change out pieces as the district continues to evolve. Read more about our current and prior commissioned projects.
Community Programming
Creating activities that bring art and public life together is essential to building community in Midtown. Through partnerships, we generate energy at the street-level, delivering music performances, lantern parades and engaging opportunities to actively participate in the arts.
Read our Impact Report
Without a doubt, one of Midtown’s greatest assets is the arts. As home to the Southeast’s largest and most prominent arts institutions, Midtown’s reputation as the “Heart of the Arts” has been a point of pride for decades. That’s why we’ve turned the “Heart of the Arts” moniker into a call to action to deliver on an ambitious vision: a place in which creativity and artistic expression are defining characteristics of the urban experience.This report examines the many recent shared wins between artists, conveners and community members to bring the arts to life in compelling new ways throughout the district.