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Mission Statement
The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center's mission is
to promote excellence, experimentation and education in all
forms of contemporary art.
The Contemporary provides access to resources and support
for emerging and established artists on local, regional, national
and international levels and creates opportunities for them
to share their work with the public. In all aspects of its
programming the Contemporary is committed to gender equality
and cultural diversity. By developing, educating and cultivating
energetic audiences of knowledgeable supporters the Contemporary
serves as a major multidisciplinary arts center in the Southeast.
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History of the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
Since 1973, the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center (formerly known
as Nexus, Inc.) has had a clear and undeviating focus on contemporary
art of an exceptionally high standard. During that time, the Contemporary
programs have received national attention from peer organizations,
private and public foundations, and government agencies.
Nexus was founded in 1973, as a storefront cooperative gallery,
by a group of Atlanta photographers who sought freedom to experiment
and to exhibit work on their own terms. The gallery, supported by
member dues and staffed by volunteers, staged regular exhibits of
local, regional and national photographers. In 1976 the organization,
with the aid of the City of Atlanta's Bureau of Cultural Affairs,
leased a 55,000 square foot elementary school from the Atlanta Board
of Education and began to expand its programs. Other arts organizations
and artists were invited to share the building, collectively calling
itself the Forrest Avenue Consortium.
Nexus’ 10th anniversary marked a commitment on the part of
the organization to develop a higher public profile, expand its
Board of Directors to include both artists and interested community
members, and increase its financial base through fundraising efforts.
In March 1984, the Board of Directors voted to refer to the organization
as Nexus Contemporary Art Center, reflective of the organization's
mission and role in the community.
In June 1987 the school which Nexus occupied since 1976 was sold
to a local business. The Board of Directors completed a $1.95 million
capital campaign to purchase and renovate a 35,000 sq. ft warehouse
complex on Means Street, near the Georgia Institute of Technology.
As a result of a phased renovation program from 1989-1994, Nexus
has been a catalyst for urban renewal in the historic Marietta Street
Artery Corridor, and has allowed the organization to fulfill far
more ambitious programming goals. In February 2000 the institution
was renamed the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center (The Contemporary),
reflecting our continued growth and ongoing commitment to contemporary
art of regional, national, and international significance.
Programs
The Gallery Program has featured hundreds of exhibitions
of work by leading local, regional, national, and international
visual artists, working in the widest range of media and materials.
The Gallery organizes solo and group exhibitions, as well as major
installations and performance pieces, and works collaboratively
on a regular basis with guest curators and other institutions to
develop and produce exhibitions. Since 1984, the Gallery has presented
the Atlanta Biennial. Begun as a tongue in cheek response to the
Whitney Biennial, the Atlanta Biennial has attained a respected
place among regional surveys.
The Studio Artist Program provides working space
for 14 Atlanta artists at rates that are significantly below market
value for the surrounding neighborhood. The goals of the Studio
Artist Program are to give working artists the opportunity to work
in a setting that will support their artistic development and provide
them with the resources necessary to advance their careers. The
Atlanta Contemporary Art Center offers this support by providing
artists with work space, opportunities for professional development,
open-studio events, professional seminars, and access to collectors
and arts professionals through tours and personal introductions.
Selected artists are offered three-year leases, with optional two-year
extensions.
The Education and Outreach Program provides multi-level
programming ranging from lectures and panel discussions to hands-on
workshops and professional development seminars. Programs serve
as a resource for artists, as well as a source of education about
contemporary art for collectors, art professionals and the general
community. The Contemporary regularly opens its doors to welcome
primary, secondary, undergraduate, and post graduate student groups,
and staff members make time to discuss exhibits and programs with
them. Staff members also visit schools and community centers to
share information about the institution and contemporary art in
general.
Nexus Press -- although Press operations were
suspended in 2003, Nexus Press continues to hold a place in the
hearts of lovers of artists’ books. During its operating period,
the Press produced almost 150 titles by proficient bookmakers as
well as novices.
These programs reflect the Contemporary’s commitment to
diversity in all its forms, by integrating artists of diverse backgrounds
into all programming areas.
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