The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs presents its annual ELEVATE Public Art Festival now through Sunday, October 10. This year’s festival events will be virtual and are absolutely free.
2020 has brought a pandemic, racial unrest, an economic recession, food shortages, and a political struggle for the soul of our country. Voices calling for change have risen to a deafening pitch. Against this backdrop, ELEVATE: Equity, Activism, Engagement is inviting artists, thought leaders, and the public to examine issues of inequity and injustice with the goal of inspiring community building, activism, and hope.
“We want this year’s ELEVATE festival to be a platform for dialogue about important issues, provide resources for activism, and help set a course for positive change,” states Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “For the first time, the festival enters the digital space. We invite people to join us for virtual events including visual art experiences, dance, poetry, lively conversations, film screenings, musical performances and more. All of the events are free.”
Leatrice Ellzy Wright, Executive Director of Hammonds House Museum, is this year’s Curator for ELEVATE: Equity, Activism, Engagement.
Check out a few of today’s events below:
2:00 PM MURAL ON THE WALL featuring new murals of Rev. James Orange and Heroine: Unsung Women in the Civil and Social Justice. This event features a virtual tour of the murals along with commentary from the family of Rev. Orange and GA Stand-UP Director Deborah Scott
4:30 PM THE WEST END THEN AND NOW: A Conversation with Dr. Skip Mason. Join Vanishing Black Atlanta founder for an enlightening discussion about Atlanta’s historic West End. Mason is the author of numerous books on the history of the African American Experience in Atlanta and throughout the South. This is a must for lovers of history!
7:00 PM THE TALK: Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones. Amazing things happen when you bring together powerful women. Literary giants Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones sit down with host Gail O’Neill to talk about their literary journeys, works, connections to the West End and how the neighborhood is often another memorable character in their stories.
CLICK HERE to see more of today's events.
