Best art exhibit in a gallery

Atlanta artist Pandra Williams presented a complex and meditative study in the biology of technology (and vice versa) with her moody installation "Radicis," one of … »more

Best black box theater

An intimate venue even by the minuscule standards of black box spaces, DAD'S GARAGE TOP SHELF offers an incubator of raw local talent, notably Griefers, … »more

Best blockbuster theater

The corporate name may not be inspirational, but every other aspect of the COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE never fails to impress, from its sleek … »more

Best collective artistic "Oh, hell naw!"

When artists, arts organizations and their supporters first learned last April that the Georgia House of Representative's proposed state budget for 2011 eliminated funds for … »more

Best dance company

The emergence of dancemaker Lauri Stallings' GLOATL over the past year has been the artistic equivalent of a fire alarm going off in the middle … »more

Best emerging visual artist

LUCHA RODRIGUEZ's examination of the body as a web of thoughts and organs manifests itself in the ethereal delicacy of her voluminous hand-cut paper installations … »more

Best fiction author

Scorch Atlas author BLAKE BUTLER doesn't just write fiction, he creates interlocking worlds, apocalyptic visions raining gravel or glass or glitter. His thin volumes swell … »more

Best gallery

With its exposed brick walls and airy, modern layout, Susan Bridges' Inman Park carriage-house-turned-gallery WHITESPACE is at once nostalgic and modern. The same can be … »more

Best gallery spotlighting local artists

Throughout its nearly five-year existence, Poncey-Highland hole-in-the-wall BEEP BEEP GALLERY has been a major factor in transforming Atlanta's underground and emerging art scenes, from shows … »more

Best graf writer

Casting a critical eye at graf writers is a little counterintuitive. We're not about to impose a set of rules where they clearly don't belong, … »more

Best graphic novelist

Terms like "subtlety," "innocence," and "whimsy" seldom describe contemporary graphic novels, but of all the creators in our lively, local comic book scene, Lilburn's ANDY … »more

Best guest actor to throw his money around

Powerhouse monologist MIKE DAISEY took the Alliance Theatre by storm last spring. Marrying the verbal and thematic ingenuity of the late Spalding Gray with the … »more

Best local comedian

It's been said that the best comedy comes from pain. If that's really the case, then somebody must have kicked the shit out of ANDY … »more

Best local female actor

In recent years, Atlantans have been short-changed the charms of PushPush Theater co-founder SHELBY HOFER, primarily due to her having a child. Hofer renewed her … »more

Best local male actor

A mainstay of Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company, E. ROGER MITCHELL proves the best kind of utility player by putting fresh spins on vivid … »more

Best movie theater

None of Atlanta's slick corporate cinema chains feels as much like a picture show by and for the community as the 71-year-old PLAZA THEATRE. The … »more

Best neighborhood for artists

There's a fairly reliable life cycle applicable to artists' neighborhoods: In the beginning, no one gives a shit about them, not even the artists. The … »more

Best nonfiction author

After reading MARA SHALHOUP's vivid and kaleidoscopic exploration of the Black Mafia Family, BMF: The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia … »more

Best photo finish

It's safe to say that the last five years JULIAN COX has spent as the curator of photography at the High have been some of … »more

Best play

Ironically, Alliance Theatre Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition finalist FAIR USE proved to be more felicitous and satisfying than any of the Kendeda's storied winners to … »more

Best playwright

As artistic director of Essential Theatre, PETER HARDY has been Atlanta's de facto midwife of new local plays. In the summer of 2010, however, Hardy … »more

Best poet

Using his own experiences as a quadriplegic, PAUL GUEST explores the way any of us — all of us — can or can't move and … »more

Best public art event

In August, more than a dozen of the world's most prolific and noted street artists descended on Atlanta for LIVING WALLS: THE CITY SPEAKS, a … »more

Best public art performance

Working with an old house in the historic Old Fourth Ward, a softball field, a vacant lot, and a growth of kudzu behind a strip … »more

Best reason to navigate the urban jungle

Forget gallery walls, this year artists have been vying for representation in public spaces, most significantly as part of the sprawling, multidisciplinary project ART ON … »more

Best sign that Atlanta's a new mini-Hollywood

Between Tyler Perry's Atlanta-based media empire, Georgia's financial incentives for film production, and Screen Gems' new deal to convert Lakewood Fairgrounds into a soundstage, the … »more

Best stage director

Actor's Express artistic director FREDDIE ASHLEY benefits from the law of averages in this category: He's such a prolific director that if you've seen a … »more

Best theater company

Perhaps something's in the water in Lawrenceville. Since AURORA THEATRE debuted its new playhouse there in 2007, the once-tame suburban theater has seen increasing creative … »more

Best trend in the arts

Atlanta's art scene has experienced a changing of the guard over the past couple of years: The collective has become king. And while the twenty- … »more

Best underground art space

Tucked away in the nether regions of the Sampson Street Lofts, MINT GALLERY makes itself known with an unassuming orange door. The artist-run nonprofit gallery … »more

Best use of Krog Street tunnel

As BP's busted well continued to gush oil into the Gulf of Mexico nearly two months after the Deep Water Horizon's "blowout preventer" failed to … »more

Best advocate for the arts

Best art exhibit in a gallery

Best art exhibit in a museum

Best art party

Best book by a local author

Best book event

Best dance company

Best dance performance

Best emerging visual artist

Best established visual artist

Best film festival

Best film series

Best gallery

Best gallery spotlighting local artists

Best improv group

Best indie crafter

Best local arts blog

Best local author

Best local comedian

Best local female actor

Best local male actor

Best local playwright

Best local poet

Best local spoken word artist

Best museum

Best neighborhood art walk

Best neighborhood for the arts

Best new trend in the arts

Best opening

Best photographer

Best place to hear spoken word

Best place to see a movie

Best play

Best public artwork

Best sketch comedy troupe or venue

Best stage director

Best street art

Best theater company

Best touring play

Best underground art space

Best venue for stand-up comedy

Public art event

Best advocate for the arts

Best art exhibit in a gallery

Best art exhibit in a gallery

Atlanta artist Pandra Williams presented a complex and meditative study in the biology of technology (and vice versa) with her moody installation "Radicis," one of … »more

Best art exhibit in a museum

Best art party

Best black box theater

An intimate venue even by the minuscule standards of black box spaces, DAD'S GARAGE TOP SHELF offers an incubator of raw local talent, notably Griefers, … »more

Best blockbuster theater

The corporate name may not be inspirational, but every other aspect of the COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE never fails to impress, from its sleek … »more

Best book by a local author

Best book event

Best collective artistic "Oh, hell naw!"

When artists, arts organizations and their supporters first learned last April that the Georgia House of Representative's proposed state budget for 2011 eliminated funds for … »more

Best dance company

Best dance company

The emergence of dancemaker Lauri Stallings' GLOATL over the past year has been the artistic equivalent of a fire alarm going off in the middle … »more

Best dance performance

Best emerging visual artist

Best emerging visual artist

LUCHA RODRIGUEZ's examination of the body as a web of thoughts and organs manifests itself in the ethereal delicacy of her voluminous hand-cut paper installations … »more

Best established visual artist

Best fiction author

Scorch Atlas author BLAKE BUTLER doesn't just write fiction, he creates interlocking worlds, apocalyptic visions raining gravel or glass or glitter. His thin volumes swell … »more

Best film festival

Best film series

Best gallery

With its exposed brick walls and airy, modern layout, Susan Bridges' Inman Park carriage-house-turned-gallery WHITESPACE is at once nostalgic and modern. The same can be … »more

Best gallery

Best gallery spotlighting local artists

Best gallery spotlighting local artists

Throughout its nearly five-year existence, Poncey-Highland hole-in-the-wall BEEP BEEP GALLERY has been a major factor in transforming Atlanta's underground and emerging art scenes, from shows … »more

Best graf writer

Casting a critical eye at graf writers is a little counterintuitive. We're not about to impose a set of rules where they clearly don't belong, … »more

Best graphic novelist

Terms like "subtlety," "innocence," and "whimsy" seldom describe contemporary graphic novels, but of all the creators in our lively, local comic book scene, Lilburn's ANDY … »more

Best guest actor to throw his money around

Powerhouse monologist MIKE DAISEY took the Alliance Theatre by storm last spring. Marrying the verbal and thematic ingenuity of the late Spalding Gray with the … »more

Best improv group

Best indie crafter

Best local arts blog

Best local author

Best local comedian

It's been said that the best comedy comes from pain. If that's really the case, then somebody must have kicked the shit out of ANDY … »more

Best local comedian

Best local female actor

In recent years, Atlantans have been short-changed the charms of PushPush Theater co-founder SHELBY HOFER, primarily due to her having a child. Hofer renewed her … »more

Best local female actor

Best local male actor

Best local male actor

A mainstay of Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company, E. ROGER MITCHELL proves the best kind of utility player by putting fresh spins on vivid … »more

Best local playwright

Best local poet

Best local spoken word artist

Best movie theater

None of Atlanta's slick corporate cinema chains feels as much like a picture show by and for the community as the 71-year-old PLAZA THEATRE. The … »more

Best museum

Best neighborhood art walk

Best neighborhood for artists

There's a fairly reliable life cycle applicable to artists' neighborhoods: In the beginning, no one gives a shit about them, not even the artists. The … »more

Best neighborhood for the arts

Best new trend in the arts

Best nonfiction author

After reading MARA SHALHOUP's vivid and kaleidoscopic exploration of the Black Mafia Family, BMF: The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia … »more

Best opening

Best photo finish

It's safe to say that the last five years JULIAN COX has spent as the curator of photography at the High have been some of … »more

Best photographer

Best place to hear spoken word

Best place to see a movie

Best play

Best play

Ironically, Alliance Theatre Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition finalist FAIR USE proved to be more felicitous and satisfying than any of the Kendeda's storied winners to … »more

Best playwright

As artistic director of Essential Theatre, PETER HARDY has been Atlanta's de facto midwife of new local plays. In the summer of 2010, however, Hardy … »more

Best poet

Using his own experiences as a quadriplegic, PAUL GUEST explores the way any of us — all of us — can or can't move and … »more

Best public art event

In August, more than a dozen of the world's most prolific and noted street artists descended on Atlanta for LIVING WALLS: THE CITY SPEAKS, a … »more

Best public art performance

Working with an old house in the historic Old Fourth Ward, a softball field, a vacant lot, and a growth of kudzu behind a strip … »more

Best public artwork

Best reason to navigate the urban jungle

Forget gallery walls, this year artists have been vying for representation in public spaces, most significantly as part of the sprawling, multidisciplinary project ART ON … »more

Best sign that Atlanta's a new mini-Hollywood

Between Tyler Perry's Atlanta-based media empire, Georgia's financial incentives for film production, and Screen Gems' new deal to convert Lakewood Fairgrounds into a soundstage, the … »more

Best sketch comedy troupe or venue

Best stage director

Actor's Express artistic director FREDDIE ASHLEY benefits from the law of averages in this category: He's such a prolific director that if you've seen a … »more

Best stage director

Best street art

Best theater company

Best theater company

Perhaps something's in the water in Lawrenceville. Since AURORA THEATRE debuted its new playhouse there in 2007, the once-tame suburban theater has seen increasing creative … »more

Best touring play

Best trend in the arts

Atlanta's art scene has experienced a changing of the guard over the past couple of years: The collective has become king. And while the twenty- … »more

Best underground art space

Best underground art space

Tucked away in the nether regions of the Sampson Street Lofts, MINT GALLERY makes itself known with an unassuming orange door. The artist-run nonprofit gallery … »more

Best use of Krog Street tunnel

As BP's busted well continued to gush oil into the Gulf of Mexico nearly two months after the Deep Water Horizon's "blowout preventer" failed to … »more

Best venue for stand-up comedy

Public art event