Established in 1996

The Athens Area Arts Council is a Legacy Project of Athens 96, the group that coordinated local activities during the 1996 Olympics. After the Olympics, remaining funds were used for needed community projects. One of these was the creation of an arts council.   After receiving input from the community in a series of public meetings, a Steering Committee was formed to develop a mission statement and draw up by-laws. The first board of directors was installed in January 1998. The Athens Area Arts Council is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization. We raise funds primarily through donations.

The AAAC has been involved in many activities since its formation. In accordance to our purpose we have strived to fulfill needs in our community. Here are of some of our past and present activities, programs and projects:

Art Crawl Athens is lucky to have many creative businesses and artist studios within walking distance of one another. During the Art Crawl, a free, self-guided walking tour, they opened their doors for a day of curated visual art exhibits and performances.

Art Decko Mural Project.  Students from all of the ACC public schools participated in creating mural panels which were installed in the College Avenue Parking Deck Stairwell.

Art Decko Mural Revival Project.  In 2017, the Athens Area Arts Council (AAAC) revisited Art Decko, a public art project that promotes creativity in unexpected places. With support from the Athens Cultural Affairs Commission (ACAC) and the Athens Downtown Development Authority (ADDA), nine Georgia artists were selected to paint murals in the College Avenue Parking Deck Stairwell. These 4’x8’ mural panels are permanently installed on each level of the deck’s main stairwell, a highly-visible area capable of introducing many downtown visitors to a few of the talented artists who call Athens home.

Athens Banner Project.  Inspired by public poster art of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the mid-20th century, the ATHENS BANNER PROJECT is a collaboration between the AAAC and the Athens Downtown Development Authority (ADDA) to promote messages of resiliency, unity and support for our local culture and community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Athens Creatives Directory.  The Athens Creatives Directory (ACD) is a sleek and efficient hub of Athens creatives that has been developed to promote the local creative economy. ACD works by encouraging creatives to submit listings of their work that will then be published for public viewing. Then, visitors and patrons can explore this community resource and interact with as many artists as possible. Made in collaboration with Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department and Envision Athens.

Classic City Chalk Fest Presented by the Athens Area Arts Council and Colors of Connection, the Classic City Chalk Fest was a two-day event celebrating the age-old tradition of street painting. Though chalk’s vulnerability to the elements makes for an ephemeral art form, its impermanence is part of its lure. Because the final product cannot be preserved, chalk art is essentially a process-focused performance art that allows spectators to watch as artists slowly blend colors to create shadow and depth. 

Emerging Black Artists Grant.  In Fall of 2020 the AAAC introduced the Emerging Black Artist Grant. This biannual grant awards $1,000 to emerging Black artists (of any discipline) living in Athens, GA. With this grant the AAAC hopes to make use of the current Black Lives Matter movement to add more Black voices to our artistic spaces and to reiterate the value of art in our cultural conversation.

Fiscal Sponsorship.  Nonprofit status is lent to organizations whose activities mirror our mission. An application can be obtained from our website.

Lunch and Learn This collaboration with the Lyndon House Arts Center was an ongoing series of educational lunchtime seminars offered professional development for artists.

Panels and Seminar Discussion. The AAAC sponsors various seminars and panel discussions that provide useful information and professional development to local artists, musicians, writers, and performers.

Play On, Athens! Inspired by similar programs nationwide, “Play On, Athens!” invites local artists to paint pianos and display them publicly around the Classic City, inviting our community to play them and share the joy of art and music Athens is known for.

Quarterly Artists Grant. Each fiscal quarter, the Athens Area Arts Council grants $500 to organizations, artists, or events that best align with our mission: “connecting arts to the community” in the most meaningful, substantial, and sustainable ways.

You Me and the Bus. A multi-year project to create 8 bus shelters that are installed along major transportation arteries in Athens. Shelters are music-themed and site-specific and transform utilitarian bus shelters into a work of art that enlivens the streetscapes along some of Athens’ most heavily traveled corridors and areas spurs revitalization in low-income neighborhoods. These bus stops help connect communities, encourage independence, and inspire creativity while providing safe shelters.