In 1990, Mayor Maynard Jackson had a vision for the arts in Atlanta. He initiated an arts summit that brought together over 500 leaders in Atlanta's art community. This summit created the "Atlanta Blueprint for the Arts" that became the guiding force for the arts in this city and has been largely implemented in conjunction with established and emerging arts organizations.

This Blueprint was a catalyst for change as Atlanta strived to be recognized as a premier city for the arts. More than a decade later, Atlanta has emerged as a regional cultural center. Under past administrations, the Office of Cultural Affairs and its partners have successfully created and implemented programs that regularly garner national and international acclaim. Through the strategic use of resources and creative ingenuity, innovative initiatives like ARTSCooL, ARTSCOOL Collegiate, The Culture Club and Summer Murals, along with the expansion of the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Office of Cultural Affairs continues to provide programs that enrich the citizens of Atlanta and the region.

Our vision is to create an enhanced quality of life in Atlanta through cultural experiences. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life through cultural experiences that can serve as an international model. In the next few years, under the leadership of Mayor Kasim Reed, we will seek to position Atlanta as an international leader in the arts community.

Initiatives such as the full implementation of the Public Art Master Plan, the launch of our new after-school enrichment program, The Culture Club and various partnerships with local arts and educational organizations to define a future direction for the arts through a community cultural plan will help us achieve our vision and mission.

I hope that this website provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the Office of Cultural Affairs and its role in the delivery of arts and culture to the city of Atlanta. Our intent is to provide an information source as well as an interactive tool for communication with the community at large. An investment in the arts nurtures commerce, education and technology. The Office of Cultural Affairs is uniquely positioned to sustain and to expand Atlanta's presence in the world arts community.

Yours in art and culture,

Camille Russell Love