The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs announced Friday that the Chastain Arts Center & Gallery will temporarily close its doors after mold was found in the facility.
“We take these concerns very seriously and we are actively working with a contractor to address the situation,” a social media post said. “Therefore, the building will be closed until further notice. In addition, our Fall session is canceled while repairs and remediation are conducted.”
The news of the Chastain Arts Center’s latest closure comes just two months after undergoing “facility improvements” back in early July. On Aug. 7, a cryptic post on X officially cut their summer session short and canceled classes through Sept. 9, citing “unforeseen circumstances.”
Meanwhile, a post on the OCA website offers more details. On Aug. 8, an announcement indicated that mold was initially discovered during the facility’s upgrades over the summer for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and new flooring.
An update on the OCA’s website promised refunds to all those who were planning to attend classes this fall. It is unclear as to why news of the center’s closure was not posted on social media in the interim.
The neoclassical Chastain Arts Center building, along with the now-razed Gresham Building at the neighboring Galloway School, were originally almshouses built to house the elderly, disabled, and otherwise unemployable between 1901 and 1911.
The Chastain Arts Center, established in 1968, is the oldest arts center in the city. The Chastain Arts Center Gallery was established in 1978 under the auspices of the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs. It’s become widely known for art classes, summer camps, gallery exhibitions, and more.
