Key points:
- Mayor Andre Dickens and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs announced the launch of ATL Culture House ahead of the World Cup.
- ATL Culture House will live at The CTR, which partially opens in the former CNN building next month.
- ATL Culture House will host eight activation days during the World Cup.
Mayor Andre Dickens and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs unveiled ATL Culture House during a press conference on April 15 at The CTR, formerly home to CNN in downtown Atlanta. Dickens said the project will serve as a physical and symbolic home for creativity, collaboration, and community for Atlanta during the global soccer event.
While ATL Culture House launches nearly 60 days ahead of the World Cup in Atlanta, the project will not pack up and leave once matches are over. Instead, Dickens believes ATL Culture House and its activations will encourage visitors to keep returning to the city.
“Soon, all eyes will be on us,” Dickens said. “People may come for the games, but they will come back to experience more of what Atlanta has to offer and what makes Atlanta, Atlanta.”
Beyond Dickens, media present at the press conference heard from ATL Culture House Executive Director Adriane Jefferson, CP Group founding partner Chris Eachus, and Showcase Atlanta Interim Executive Director Lamar Stewart, along with Atlanta Influences Everything co-founder Bem Joiner and Amazon Head of Community Affairs (Georgia) Terreta Rodgers.
“Atlanta already has culture. We just have to raise the bar in the visibility of it,” Jefferson said of the impetus behind ATL Culture House.
ATL Culture House will reside on The CTR’s eighth floor and offer eight activations between June 14 and July 14, including artist talks, panels, screenings, and live performances.
In addition to immersive World Cup experiences around the city, ATL Culture House will also include a mobile presence in Atlanta.
“We are bringing arts and culture to the neighborhoods where people may not have access,” Jefferson said. “Everyone deserves a right to participate in culture and to participate in the World Cup when major events come here to Atlanta.”
The CTR commissioned local artists Dr. Dax, Fabian Williams, Michi Meko, and TOTEM to create murals for its “Icons” series. Murals will reside both inside and on the exterior of The CTR building.
In addition to ATL Culture House, CTR Food Works, a 24,000-square-foot food hall with a large central bar, will open in mid-May.
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• New dining concepts and a bar open in May at the former CNN Center
To continue lifting up local artists, Stewart stated that Showcase Atlanta will host a creative marketplace this summer. The location has yet to be determined, but Stewart said it will provide needed exposure for local artists and artisans that sometimes takes years to build. Additional pop-up vendor opportunities will also be announced in the coming weeks.
Dickens, who was a Georgia Tech student during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, urged residents not to flee the city like they did 30 years ago. “I want you to enjoy Atlanta while others enjoy Atlanta,” Dickens said.
Expect ATL Culture House to host a variety of live performances, talks, and special art exhibits throughout the World Cup, all focused on Atlanta. Each event will feature themes like “How It Started,” “Sounds of ATL,” and “On the Screen.”
