as i see it
 Photo by Bard Wrisley |
In the last three years Miami has become home to the largest contemporary art fair in the United States. For four days each December, Miami welcomes a host of private jets bringing the world’s biggest contemporary art collectors to Art Basel Miami. Here art devotees and representatives of the world’s major contemporary art galleries come together to see and exhibit the latest art trends, in the process spending huge sums of money on art and entertaining and generating tremendous profit for the city. Our city is missing out—the funds that this event brings to Miami will never be generated by Atlanta while it is not a part of the international cultural scene and while it lacks similar events.
Atlanta has a lot to offer – great weather, beautiful terrain and lovely neighborhoods. We can be proud of our big institutions like the High Museum and the Atlanta Symphony and of attractions such as the Atlanta Aquarium, but, at the end of the day we can probably all agree these are not enough. While Brand Atlanta is concerned with generating tourism, it seems to me that its overlooking the fact that Atlanta’s identity isn’t really tied to anything most tourists would like to experience. Atlanta does not provide that “distinct” feeling you get in Las Vegas, New York, or Miami. Fine dining, luxury hotels and shopping are simply not enough to compete with the culture these cities offer and we do not have the natural wonders of San Diego and Lake Tahoe. Yep, we win over Birmingham and Charlotte but that is not enough. Atlanta is, quite bluntly, a nowhere land for the artistic, cultured and deep pocketed tourists.
Admittedly, developing an identity for Atlanta as an international cultural center requires vision, but nothing less will ever lead to positioning Atlanta on a par with New York and London. A truly dynamic Atlanta arts scene begins by creating an image and context to entice more artistic people to come and live and work here. The City of Atlanta, its business leaders and Brand Atlanta must take the position that Atlanta is “the” new place for the arts by offering financial support and loudly publicizing not just the large cultural institutions but the small and medium ones as well.
To really develop our city, we need to enlist the help of savvy developers who should be encouraged to build districts (like The Galleries of Peachtree Hills) where art galleries can congregate in close proximity to upscale housing, hotels, and fine dining. In essence creating gallery and theatre districts and a physical “cultural heart” for Atlanta. Why not our own version of Broadway? With this foundation in place, we will have begun the process of making Atlanta an inviting and successful home for artists of all disciplines. This must be concomitant with financial support to expand existing institutions and to create new ones with a view toward cultural impact. However, there is another aspect to this development. Atlanta must create and market itself as a great place for advertising, new media, fashion, avant garde architecture and entertainment companies to open offices. Not only would these new businesses create jobs and expand our in-town housing market, they would make room for a special type of professional. I like to call these professionals creatives as they work in industries like fashion and advertising; industries closely associated with artistry. Creatives thrive in environments where the arts are king and they enjoy being the first to say they discovered them. Though they are not “artists” their creative talents make them great appreciators of culture and natural supporters of the arts. But first Atlanta has to step up to the plate and create the atmosphere and the opportunities to lure these businesses here. Atlanta has the advantage of being a low cost alternative to New York, LA and San Francisco, so a big part of the job will be the visible promotion and visible signs of artistic renewal in the form of theater and gallery districts.
Encouraging a world class community of creatives and artists will attract the type of executives who are accustomed to cultural sophistication and will not (and do not have to) trade down to a less sophisticated environment. These are the personalities that thrive on being on the leading edge, whether in business or the arts. Due to their significant disposable income it is ultimately this group that will provide the financial lifeblood of the arts community and will make the most significant personal and professional philanthropic gifts.
Atlanta must think about its future, how its reputation can be expanded and where growth exists. By considerably expanding the publicity machine for our already wonderful arts organizations, creating more opportunities for artists, developing a “cultural heart” for our city, enticing artistic industries, and creatives to make Atlanta their home, and ultimately, establishing our city as the place where culturally engaged executives want to live, Atlanta will become a richer and more dynamic city and all its citizens will benefit.
Atlanta has come to a certain fork in the road and our ability to be taken seriously as an international city is no longer only contingent on infrastructure and business as usual. You and I must demand that our leaders and politicians focus more attention and support on the arts and the business of art. I believe that our ability to compete culturally and artistically is a real issue in our ability to be taken seriously and that this in turn will affect economic growth. If Atlanta’s expansion is to continue we must all share this vision, become patrons of the fine arts, understand what is necessary and hold our leaders and ourselves accountable. This is our chance!
-Timothy Tew
