Community
Friday, April 20, 2012
Books / Community Fox Theatre Institute receives grant for Georgia preservation handbook
Posted by Debbie Michaud on Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 10:00 AM
- Dustin Chambers /CL file
- The Fox Theatre's iconic marquee and with the historic Georgian Terrace Hotel towering in the background
It's well known locally that despite their storied histories and architectural significance, both buildings have faced demolition: the Fox struggled through the ’70s and the Georgian Terrace was condemned in the mid-’80s. In both cases, it was the efforts of savvy preservationists that saved the buildings and eventually turned the intersection into what the National Register of Historic Places has dubbed the Fox Theatre District (which also includes the Georgian Terrace's sister building the Ponce de Leon Apartments).
The grassroots campaign to save the Fox in the ’70s eventually led to the creation of The Fox Theatre Institute, a nonprofit focused on historic theater preservation around the country. FTI recently was awarded a $1,000 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to fund The Georgia Historic Preservation Handbook, a collaborative effort between the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the Department of Natural Resources to be published in May.
“The goal is to educate residents about historic preservation, the people that make it happen, and how anyone can join this vital movement,” said Carmie McDonald, Program Manager for Fox Theatre Institute in a press release.
"This publication advocates the building of sustainable communities in Georgia while promoting diversity and place. By educating readers on restoration projects, federal and state tax incentives, preservation financing, and sustainability laws and standards, they aim to further economic sustainability for Georgia’s communities," explains the press release. Given Atlanta's penchant for new construction (something the current recession slightly allayed), a handbook sounds like a good idea.
The Georgia Historic Preservation Handbook will be available online for free or for purchase in print.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Community WonderRoot brings art, movies, music to EAV Farmers Market
Posted by Debbie Michaud on Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 12:12 PM
From WonderRoot:
Christ, Lord will give the inaugural performance for our Music at the Market series, and WonderRoot Creative Reuse will do a pop-up shop as the first WonderRoot Index, a weekly tented gallery where artists are invited to experiment with interaction and display. Also, look for future info on Screen on the Edible Green, an outdoor film series we are developing in partnership with Studio Outpost.
Artists interested in participating can email WonderRoot Creative Director Maggie Ginestra.
The EAV Farmers Market is open Thursdays from 4-8 p.m. at 561 Flat Shoals Ave across the street from the Midway Pub. It is accessible via the #9, #34, #4 and #107 MARTA bus lines.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
News / Community Simanga emphasizes importance of generating revenue at NBAF
Posted by Debbie Michaud on Wed, Feb 29, 2012 at 1:12 PM
- Courtesy the National Black Arts Festival
- New NBAF CEO Michael Simanga
"There will be less emphasis on the main programming being the festival and more emphasis on producing a number of programs in a variety of disciplines in various communities; a heightened education component to develop audiences to extend the impact of what we're producing; ...and an earned revenue component that will allow us to generate revenue in different areas," he says. "The National Black Arts Festival has spent the last four-plus years transitioning into a new model," a transitional period that he says began 2008 with the 20th anniversary, and the concurrent national economic fallout. Simanga says he intends to transition into a completely new model by 2013 to coincide with NBAF's 25th anniversary.
Specifically, that means transforming the organization into a money-making enterprise. "Artists are essentially entrepreneurs and small business owners — the form that we function in is consistent with any other small business. The problem is that we're good at creating the product but terrible at getting it into the marketplace," he says. "How do we create a space for artists to create that work and take that work through a collective endeavor through the National Black Arts Festival into the marketplace?"
"We need to frame things differently - [there is] very little capturing of the intellectual property or additional products that could be used to create additional revenue. If you sell the potato chip do you also sell the dip? Arts organizations typically don't do that."
On the phone, Simanga sounds confident in his plan but notes that he's one voice in a larger community looking for answers about sustainability. "The arts community has taken a devastating hit and the conversation has to be extended deeply into the community. It may not be what I'm thinking at all, and that's fine, but I want a larger conversation about how we use our resources."
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Books / Community It's the end of an era: Outwrite is permanently closed
Posted by Bobby Feingold on Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 11:16 AM
- Joeff Davis
- In a written statement, owner Philip Rafshoon said, "We have examined and exhausted all possibilities for continuing this company given our financial situation."
On Tuesday, Outwrite celebrated its final event of author readings called "Last Tango." There, City Councilman Alex Wan honored Rafshoon for establishing "a city landmark and one of the most visible and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender establishments in the nation.”
Rafshoon opened the original 1,000-square-foot Outwrite in 1993 in the Midtown Promenade shopping center that now houses Trader Joe's. At that time, it was Atlanta's only gay and lesbian bookstore (aside from the more feminist-focused Charis Books & More). As the store grew, Rafshoon expanded to the Piedmont Ave. location in May 1996 at the height of the Olympics boom. Outwrite cemented the Midtown corner as ground zero for gay Atlanta for more than a decade, but on Nov. 14, 2011, Rafshoon announced the store would vacate its iconic storefront in search for cheaper rent. Now that the bookstore is closed for good, it leaves a void for the city's LGBT community to gather in a safe, intellectual space. Rafshoon has yet to announce any other business plans, but we hope this isn't his last attempt at engaging Atlanta's gay community.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Community Where to volunteer on MLK Jr. Day in Atlanta
Posted by Henry Samuels on Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 1:00 PM
- Image Courtesy of Revivalist
- Dr Martin Luther King
Saturday Jan. 14
The Decatur MLK Service Project is seeking volunteers to work at senior citizen's homes in Oakhurst, doing home repairs and yard work that the elderly homeowners would not normally be able to afford or do. Skilled construction workers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, and gardeners are greatly needed in addition to anyone willing to help. Volunteers are encouraged to bring any tools, rakes, brooms, clippers, etc. that they may own. Volunteers can work one or both of two shifts: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and are asked to meet at the Solarium in Oakhurst at least a half-hour before their shift starts.
The Southeastern Horticultural Society is requesting volunteers to help get a new family of goats accustomed to their new home at the organization's East Lake garden. Volunteers will get the opportunity to come up with and vote on names for the new goats, plant seeds as part of the organization's 'Million Plant March' mission, and install a peace pole to honor Dr. King's legacy. Volunteers should arrive at 10 a.m.
The Open Hand organization, which has been providing nutritious meals to low income communities in Atlanta for 22 years, can always use some extra helping hands around the organization. On Saturdays, Open Hand needs volunteers for cooking, meal packaging, and meal delivering. From 9 a.m. and throughout the day, register here.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Books / Community Outwrite says goodbye to landmark Midtown corner
Posted by Bobby Feingold on Thu, Nov 17, 2011 at 9:30 AM
- Joeff Davis
- OVER THE RAINBOW: Owner Philip Rafshoon will move LGBT bookstore Outwrite from the corner of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue at the end of his lease.
There are plenty of reasons why bookstores of all kinds are closing nowadays: online shopping, e-readers, Americans' overall lack of spending money. This year, mega-retailer Borders went bankrupt and liquidated, shuttering stores across the nation, including a Ponce de Leon Avenue location minutes from Outwrite. But this is different. This is unlike any big-box bookstore closing because Outwrite is more than a bookstore. Outwrite brought a new kind of center to Atlanta's gay and lesbian community. It wasn't about drinking or going to a bar, but about being connected and visible. The store proved to many Atlantans, gay and straight, that you can be gay even at 9 a.m., with a coffee in your hand instead of a vodka-cran.
Rafshoon opened the original 1,000-square-foot Outwrite in 1993 in the current Rice Box restaurant location in the Midtown Promenade shopping center that now houses Trader Joe's. At the time, "Atlanta was the largest city in the country that didn't have a gay and lesbian bookstore," says Rafshoon (Charis Books & More was catering primarily to women).
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Community As a matter of fact I WOULD like to win a Prius. Thanks for offering.
Posted by Debbie Michaud on Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Hey you, want a new car? Want to support a fine local arts organization? Got $25?
WonderRoot's raffling this off to raise money:
Tickets are $25 each, 5 for $100. Get 'em here.
GOD. WonderRoot has the WORST ideas.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Visual Arts / Community Where are the artists at Occupy Atlanta?
Posted by Wyatt Williams on Mon, Oct 17, 2011 at 4:39 PM
- Karen Tauches
She does make note, though, of a couple of important things missing from the equation:
Only two things are really missing.A toilet paper committee, most importantly. (A testament to the increasing occupying population? Or part of a homeland security mission to stop anyone else from going?)
And, surprisingly, if you come looking for a working studio, someone drawing the gorgeous landscape, a working visual artist, or even an arts and crafts table you may very well be disappointed.
One occupier observed, "Why aren't there more posters? And creative ones? What can we do about this? Where are the artists?"
All good questions.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Community Local arts collaborate on co-branding campaign
Posted by Wyatt Williams on Thu, Sep 22, 2011 at 11:33 AM
- COURTESY ATLANTAPLANIT
A broad group of Atlanta-based arts organizations, ranging from the Atlanta Opera to WonderRoot, have announced a large-scale co-branding campaign. The effort, called “Atlanta Art Lives Here,” is a gem of common-sense thinking: in essence, the organizations are pooling resources to create visibility, like billboards, that would be otherwise impossible on smaller budgets.
Check out the press release after the jump.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Visual Arts / Community Deadlines abound for local artist grants
Posted by Wyatt Williams on Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 6:40 PM
Atlanta-based artists looking for a little institutional support have a big day tomorrow. The deadline for applications is coming up tomorrow, Sept. 15, on a number of locally-minded, arts-funding programs:
The Artadia Awards application is due at 11:59 pm.
The Artadia Award is unique, providing substantial financial support, critical validation and broader public exposure for artists across the country:Cash awards are granted in participating cities on a rotating basis.
Awards ranging from $15,000 to $3,000 are unrestricted, and can be used however the artist sees fit.
The Hambidge Creative Residency Program application is due.
Hambidge provides a residency program that empowers talented artists to explore, develop, and express their creative voices. Situated on 600 acres in the mountains of north Georgia, Hambidge is a sanctuary of time and space that inspires artists working in a broad range of disciplines to create works of the highest caliber.
WonderRoot and Creative Capital's Professional Development Program application is due at 6 pm.
The workshop is by artists and for artists and has been crafted in order for artists to learn how to promote their own work better.
Miss the boat on planning for these opportunities? Fret not. Applications are just getting started tomorrow for Unbound, a new artist grant program launched by local arts PR firm Punch Bot
