Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.’s Arts and Culture Department has published a call for artists for the twelfth Art on the Atlanta BeltLineexhibition. The program invites artists across all mediums to participate via visual and performance art, sculpture, and the residency program. Proposals are due May 28, 2021, at 12 p.m. and virtual information sessions for applicants will be held May 1 and May 19.
Since 2010, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) has brought visual and performing arts to its parks and trails throughout the city. Art on the Atlanta BeltLine has grown to be the largest temporary exhibition of its kind in the south, creating an outdoor, public gallery over 11 linear miles. The Atlanta BeltLine seeks equity and inclusion across all programmatic elements and is committed to paying artists a living wage for their work and to providing arts and culture jobs in the local economy and beyond.
All applicants must sign up in Vendor Registry, ABI’s procurement system. All proposals will be submitted electronically through Vendor Registry. Details on each of the three open calls and how to register to apply can be found at art.beltline.org/opencall. Details on each of the open calls are as follows:
#1: Open Call for Art and Art Professionals
Visual artists, performers, musicians, lecturers, art historians and art professionals at every stage of their careers to apply for the 2021-2022 exhibition season.
Potential project proposals could include, but are not limited to: performance works of all kinds, such as street and travelling performers, parade, music, dance, theater, and performance art; utilization of fences or screening devices; murals; school or class projects; historical or didactic works; projects that promote exploration of Atlanta BeltLine trails; organizational collaborations; sculpture opportunities (separate call for submissions); work that is reflective of the culture and history of BeltLine neighborhoods, amplifies local history, and elevates voices and narratives that have historically been marginalized.
Performances will be subject to public health guidelines near the time of the event. All performance proposals must include a COVID-19 plan for use in the instance gatherings are still restricted.
Submitting artists will apply to have their work featured in any of the following components of the exhibition:
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BeltLine Walls Volume 4 (Murals) – Artists will work on their walls during the month of October, culminating in a grand reveal and community celebration.
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BeltLine Flow (Performance Series) – Artists are invited to perform along the Atlanta BeltLine corridor throughout the timeframe of the exhibition. These are designed to act as a pop-up style events to creatively activate and celebrate the corridor in many locations.
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BeltLine After Dark (Festival) – This annual festival celebrates the communities and spaces along the BeltLine Westside Trail. Artists are invited to submit proposals to activate the Westside Trail and welcome the autumn season. ABI will host events concurrently at Gordon White Park, Washington Park, and the Atlanta BeltLine space in Historic Ashview Heights. Previous seasons have included concerts, ballet, theater, opera and interactive roving performances.
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Special Projects / Guest Exhibitions – Atlanta arts and culture organizations are invited to submit proposals that use the Atlanta BeltLine to show their work/project, including hosting a pop-up event, or any other exciting ideas.
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Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade – Musicians who wish to be included in the 2021 Lantern Parade should contact Chantelle Rytter directly at c@chantellerytter.com.
#2: Open Call for Sculpture Professionals
Sculptures, installation and 3D artists at every stage of their careers are invited to apply for the 2021-2022 exhibition season. Historic, environmental, cultural, functional, urban design, and/or aesthetic aspects of the Atlanta BeltLine are good starting points to consider for potential proposal submissions. Selected works will be exhibited up to two years.
Potential project proposals could include, but are not limited to: temporary art – sculptural or visual installations; gateway or entrance works; works traversing an Atlanta BeltLine trail; monumental works; interactive works; environmental works; loan of existing artwork, such as sculptures or assemblages; work that is reflective of the culture and history of Beltline neighborhoods, amplifies local history, and elevates voices and narratives that have historically been marginalized.
Proposed works need to consider the geography, topography, and scale of one or more of the identified BeltLine Spaces locations on the Atlanta BeltLine. Concrete pads are limited, and artists are encouraged to consider creative alternatives for both installation and visual integration into the landscape. Successful projects will be additive and not reductive to the landscape.
#3: Open Call for Art on the Atlanta BeltLine Residency Program
ABI is accepting applications for residency positions that provide invaluable 12-month exposure to qualified respondents. The Atlanta BeltLine residency program is designed to offer real-world exposure operating within the realm of public art and infrastructure. Unlike collegiate or gallery residencies that operate within the structure and stricture of those prescribed spaces and audiences, the public realm presents many unique challenges including, but not limited to: responsibilities to multiple audiences simultaneously, community place keeping and empowerment, space and environment, and the many components of the civic system including permitting, ordinances, and governmental offices.
The program seeks qualified individuals to fill the following roles: Scholar-in-Residence, Curator-in-Residence, and Artist-in-Residence. The selected participants will have access to ABI’s staff and its facilities to complete the objectives of the Atlanta BeltLine Residency Program.
Artists’ Information Sessions
Artists and professionals are invited to join ABI staff for two virtual information sessions. These public meetings will provide additional information about the process and allow attendees to ask questions. They will take place on Saturday, May 1 at 11 a.m. and Wednesday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. Please see schedule here. Recordings of the sessions will be available on the website after the events.
Additional Information
Historic, environmental, cultural, functional, urban design, and/or aesthetic aspects of the Atlanta BeltLine are good starting points to consider for potential proposal submissions. Projects are expected to be well-researched, well-planned, and feasible.
Proposals and applications are due by 12 noon EST on May 28, 2021. All applicants must register for Vendor Registry and all proposals must be submitted through that system. For complete guidelines on all three calls, please visit art.beltline.org/opencall.
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The 2021-2022 Art on the Atlanta BeltLine exhibition is presented by Georgia Natural Gas and Northside Hospital. Additional sponsors include Ponce City Market and MailChimp at the Gold level; Kroger, Empire Communities, and Edward Jones at the Silver level; Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, WarnerMedia, and Uber at the Bronze level; and Flashpoint Artists Initiative, Inman Park Neighborhood Association and Michael Ross | Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s at the Patron level.
Major support for this project is provided by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. This program is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts. This project is also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.