ART PAPERS

On March 1st and 2nd, Art Papers is inviting artists, arts administrators, funders, collectors, and all those invested in the future of Atlanta’s visual art ecosystem to join us for a dynamic two-day program focused on the resilience, adaptability, and sustainability of the city’s nonprofit arts sector. Art Papers staff will be leading a "crash course" in institutional transparency and moderating a panel on adaptive forms. Other panel topics include Support Models, Thinking Publicness, and Cross-Sector Collaborations. We'll close out the series with a "Houseguest Talk" from New York based curator, educator, writer, and co-founder of Brief Histories, Fawz Kabra. Hosted at Atlanta Contemporary, the event will bring together leading voices from Atlanta’s visual art community to address the challenges we face while celebrating the innovative practices and adaptive strategies shaping the future of the arts in Atlanta. This series is the result of a year-long collaboration between Art Papers and a steering committee of thought leaders from the Atlanta visual arts community, who have designed a rich lineup of discussions to tackle the urgent issues facing nonprofit arts organizations in our city. The program’s themes highlight solutions-oriented strategies for cultivating a sustainable art environment, offering unique insights from artists, administrators, funders, and institutional leaders. Each session will feature audience Q&A, allowing for direct engagement with the speakers and further exploration of the topics discussed. Programs are free, but attendees are asked to RSVP for individual sessions—or the full two-day program. As space is limited, RSVP is required for each program element.

Introducing the artists for IGNITE, A Curated Art Papers Auction: Anila Agha, Lucinda Bunnen, Brendan John Carroll, Ryan Coleman, Ariel Dannielle, Christa David, Dana DeGiulio, Thornton Dial, Didi Dunphy, Wihro Kim, Pam Longobardi, Lucy Luckovich, Lilly McElroy, Michi Meko, Chip Moody, Phuong Nguyen, Curtis Patterson, Joe Peragine, Sergio Suarez, Mildred Thompson, Aineki Traverso, Vadis Turner, Paul Weiner, Jamele Wright Sr. Bid on the work of these stellar artists and support Art Papers in the process! Each of these artists have been selected by our curators to participate in this year’s auction creating a more intimate and elevated version of the beloved and long-running Art Papers Art Auction. This event will offer collectors and patrons exclusive access to invited curators and these artists they champion. BIDDING WILL BE IN PERSON ONLY. BE SURE TO SECURE YOUR TICKET SOON. https://lnkd.in/emkPUUpF

Tickets are now available for IGNITE: A Curated Art Papers Auction.This return (and reimagining) of our beloved ART PAPERS Art Auction will take place Thursday, September 26, 2024. The event will be held at The Estate in Buckhead. https://lnkd.in/emkPUUpF IGNITE will offer our guests an intimate, elevated evening, plus exclusive access to a selection of contemporary art chosen by guest curators.The evening will include a rousing silent auction, hors d’oeuvres and chef-imagined small plates by Atlanta’s premier catering group Legendary Events, live piano by Peter Flamming, complimentary wine, Prosecco, and signature cocktails by Cathead Distillery. VIP ticket holders will enjoy a preview party and curator-led tour. This event will offer guests exclusive access to a selection of contemporary artworks by emerging and established artists, each chosen by a group of esteemed local and national curators who are committed to Art Papers’ mission.

We are honored to announce three exciting new grants, awarded in support of Art Papers’ programs and mission. First, we offer sincere thanks to The Wagner Foundation for graciously supporting us with an award of $120,000 over the next three years to support our Fire Ecology project, including the Atlanta Art Ecosystems series of public discussions, the national symposium on arts writing, our final print issue of ART PAPERS magazine, and more. The Wagner Foundation is a nonprofit, private foundation based in Cambridge, MA, whose vision is a just and robust community where everyone is valued equally and has the ability to imagine, shape, pursue, and sustain the lives they wish to lead. Their mission is to confront the social and historical disparities that perpetuate injustice. They do this by accompanying organizations aligned with this goal, serving as advocates for change and convening thought leaders. ________ We are thankful that the Georgia Council for the Arts, a strategic arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, has awarded Art Papers a Bridge Grant for fiscal year 2025. The Bridge Grant provides operating support to nonprofit arts organizations, many of which were negatively affected by COVID-19. As part of this year’s Bridge awards, 204 entities in 44 counties will receive more than $2.6 million in funding. “These grant dollars will allow arts organizations in Georgia to focus on their primary mission to bring art and cultural events to their communities by relieving the burden of certain operating expenses,” said Georgia Council for the Arts Director Tina Lilly. “Georgia Council for the Arts is excited to help our arts organizations continue to foster economic and cultural vitality in their communities.” Georgia Council for the Arts received applications from arts organizations from across the state, including performing arts centers, museums, galleries, amphitheaters, and music festivals. Bridge Grants are available to arts organizations for eligible operating expenses like rent, utilities, programming expenses, and marketing. Funding for these grants is provided through appropriations from the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Rescue Plan (ARP). ________ We also offer thanks to the AEC Trust for their support of the Atlanta Art Ecosystems programming, part of our Fire Ecology project. The AEC Trust is a private foundation established in 1980 as a philanthropic, grantmaking organization. It is governed by an Advisory Board that sets policy and is responsible for the review of grants.

Art Papers is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $50,000. “Projects like Art Papers exemplify the creativity and care with which communities are telling their stories, creating connection, and responding to challenges and opportunities in their communities—all through the arts,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. Executive + Artistic Director Sarah Higgins remarked, “Art Papers’ work would not be possible without the longtime support of the NEA. We are extremely grateful for their continued belief in our mission, and how we interpret that mission by empowering our contributors and artists to share a perspective that does not center whiteness, heteronormativity, or ableist narratives. We will carry the NEA’s generous grant forward to maintain the standards of excellence that have earned their support.”