Atlanta Contemporary

Founded in 1973 as Nexus, a grassroots artists’ cooperative dedicated to promoting experimentation and education in the visual, performing, and book arts, Atlanta Contemporary (AC) has since become one of the southeast’s leading contemporary art centers. In 1989, the organization moved to its current location on Means Street in Atlanta’s historic Westside neighborhood and was soon after renamed to Atlanta Contemporary Art Center. After a decade on Means Street (2013), the board and staff launched a Capital Campaign and renovation of the main galleries and interior spaces with the help of Atlanta architectural firm BLDGS. On September 1, 2015 with funding from the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund, AC underwent a major institutional rebranding and eliminated admission fees resulting in now over 211% increase in annual attendance. Since free admission, the demographic makeup of the audience significantly shifted, encouraging staff to consider the relevancy of exhibitions and educational programming to the audience. This past fiscal year (FY2019), AC presented 36 exhibitions featuring 85 artists from local, national, and international art scenes to over 26,500 patrons. We hosted 71 educational programs featuring 66 artists as well as arts and cultural institutions throughout the year through Contemporary Talks, Contemporary Cocktails, Contemporary Kids, Movement Love, and more. AC remains committed to the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion with regards to the organization’s mission to engage the public through the creation, presentation, and advancement of contemporary art - free admission, every day.