Atlanta Arts & Culture
Those who previously criticized Atlanta for its lack of culture are eating their words these days. The Atlanta Opera and Atlanta Symphony are both making marks on the world stage, and the critically acclaimed High Museum of Art has undergone a major renovation and expansion, more than doubling its size to 312,000 square feet.
 ©2006 Atlanta CVB The renovated High Museum of Art has been a major part of Atlanta's cultural emergence. |
Photography is a favorite art form in the city, largely thanks to part-time resident Elton John. An avid art collector, John's personal curator is Jane Jackson, who sold her own gallery to administer his private collection, which is periodically shown at the High Museum. The Atlanta Celebrates Photography Festival takes place every October to educate the public about photography as art.
Insider's Guide: The Best of Arts & Culture in Atlanta
Mason Muir Gallery may take some searching to find, but it's become popular as both a gallery and an event destination. The large, open gallery is tucked in a warehouse area on Armour Drive, right off Monroe Drive and Interstate 85. It mostly features established and emerging Atlanta-based artists. Artwork in the gallery includes monumental sculpture, painting, photography, and creations on paper in a range of styles.
A fun way to experience the High Museum is to take in its jazz event every third Friday of the month. On those days, the museum is open until 10 pm.
Speaking of Fridays, the Fernbank Science Museum features "Martinis and IMAX" every Friday night from 5:30 to 10 pm. Dining tables are set up in the museum's atrium near the dinosaur statue. Participants who stroll to the back of the atrium will discover a beautiful view of the Fernbank's grounds filled with trees, colorful plants, and hiking trails.
Atlanta also plays host to the National Black Arts Festival, which is a year-round cultural celebration of African-American music, dance, theater, film, literature, and the visual arts. In connection with the celebration, the NBAF is involved in year-round educational and humanities programs for children and families.
To find out what Atlanta has to offer in the way of architecture and landmarks, go to the next page.
