Midtown Alliance Announces Studio Residency Program with Commercial Properties
Artist workspaces will give creatives the opportunity to build firm foundations in the district.
Published: 04/01/21
Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, whose work is featured as part of the Heart of the Arts Program at 10 10th Street. Photo Credit @mistahfu
BY ELLIE HENSLEY
Midtown Alliance is expanding its Heart of the Arts initiative with the creation of its first-ever residency program. Applications are now being accepted for year-long residencies to provide artists with dedicated spaces to work inside commercial and institutional buildings at various sites throughout the district.
Eligibility requirements and application instructions for Heart of the Arts residencies can be found here.
Heart of the Arts launched in December 2020 with seven storefront installations that activated empty ground level spaces and showcased talent that was new to the district.
“We saw the first phase of Heart of the Arts bring both storefronts and street level to life,” said curator Neda Abghari. “It’s heartening to witness Midtown further invest in the city’s creative economy by expanding the program to serve artists through residencies. Heart of the Arts relies on strategic partnerships with commercial properties to further connect artists to the community.”
Each residency includes:
- Studio space for 12 months
- A stipend to alleviate financial barriers to creating work and conducting business
- Opportunities to showcase work to new audiences, patrons, curators, and more
Additionally, residing artists will receive priority consideration by Midtown Alliance and its partners for future commission opportunities that will benefit Midtown’s public spaces.
Artists will be selected by a committee composed of a number of Atlanta’s respected cultural agents, as well as Midtown business and property owners. Midtown’s inaugural class of resident artists will be announced in June.
Residencies Powered by Partnerships with Midtown Property Owners
The Atlanta History Center Midtown Campus and Portman Holdings are the first to sign on to provide studio spaces for the residency program, which are expected to open this summer. To view a complete list of our founding partners, click here.
“At Atlanta’s History Center, we’re constantly looking for ways to be an asset to our community, and our Midtown campus is a wonderful opportunity to do that,” said Sheffield Hale, President & CEO of Atlanta History Center. “Art is also such an important way that we can connect with one another, and with our community. We’re excited about the possibilities for dialogue that having an artist in residence could bring over the next year.”
Host sites enjoy the making of art on their property and quarterly programming events such as artist talks, workshops, classes and lectures.
“Through the artist in residency program, we're excited to be able to bring creative entrepreneurs directly into Coda's innovative ecosystem,” said Ambrish Baisiwala, CEO and Chairman of Portman Holdings. “We will continue to see the social equity creation made possible by those meaningful connections.”
Midtown Alliance invites property owners seeking opportunities for their available spaces in 2021 to reach out regarding potential partnerships.
“We believe the creative community is integral to vibrant city life,” said Ginny Kennedy, Midtown Alliance Director of Urban Design. “It’s inspiring to join forces with some of Midtown’s most influential property owners to help artists build a firm foundation in our district.”
For more about the Heart of the Arts program visit MidtownATL.com/arts. Follow Midtown Alliance on Instagram (@Midtown_ATL), Facebook (@MidtownATL) and Twitter (@MidtownATL) with hashtag #MidtownATLarts for updates about the program.
Learn more about the Heart of the Arts program here.
EDITOR'S NOTE: One of the seven original Heart of the Arts storefront installations, Shanequa Gay's "Secoriea's Spirit Lives Here," is leaving its site at 805 Peachtree within the next two weeks. This exhibition honors Secoreia Turner and houses her in a space that reflects her royalty, purity and divinity. Stop by and see it while it is still on view.
