2014 Index of Winners

Atlanta was many things before Living Walls began painting the city anew: Civil War remnant, civil rights bastion, Southern rap capital. But like the proverbial phoenix symbolized by the city's continual rise from ashes, an organization co-founded by a Peruvian transplant has helped spark the latest rebirth. In the past five years, the volunteer-run public art nonprofit Living Walls, the City Speaks has hosted more than 100 street artists from all over the globe to paint murals throughout the heart of Atlanta. In many neighborhoods, they've turned decay into beauty. The street cred hasn't come without criticism. Yet even that has sparked at LW conferences the kind of public conversation — surrounding issues of urban decline and gentrification, class privilege and the role of public art — that usually only happens in private. Led by feisty visionary Monica Campana, Living Walls is transforming the look of the inner city, and knocking down some long-standing walls in the process. (Go backstage with Living Walls Communications Director Jasmine Amussen.) less...

Atlanta. 1987. A small group of sci-fi fans joined forces to create what has become arguably the supreme gathering of geeks and nerds in the world. All kneel before Dragon Con. Every Labor Day weekend, Jedis, Dr. Whos, and Klingons descend upon Downtown and, after taking over the city's most iconic street with a parade rivaled only by Pride, party in hotels. When not showing off costumes, attendees sit in panel discussions about filking, participate in live-action role-playing, and pack Q&As with the cast of"Mystery Science Theater 3000" and other popular series. If you're able to squeeze yourself into one of the host hotels to party alongside them, you have a wonderful night ahead of you. Thank you for being a geeky friend that enlivens our city and pumps millions of dollars into our local economy, Dragon Con. less...

The Atlanta we know today would not exist without Antwan"Big Boi" Patton and Andre"Andre 3000" Benjamin of OutKast. With a career spanning 20 years back to the duo's 1994 debut, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, OutKast has become one of the greatest musical groups of all time, as well as one of Atlanta's most enthusiastic ambassadors. They coined the term ATLien, after all. From the Dungeon to Stankonia to the Grammys and major motion pictures, the"Two Dope Boyz" have always remained true to ATL. You'd be hard-pressed to find a musical act in any other city able to sell out three consecutive homecoming shows. less...