Dear Friends and Supporters:
I am delighted to share a copy of the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) fiscal year (FY) 2021 annual report with you.
This past year we were put to the test as we continued to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, which threatened so much of what we hold dear. With the support of Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the Atlanta City Council, as a part of the City’s pandemic response efforts, we were able to keep culture thriving by supporting our local arts organizations and independent artists through our programming and relief efforts.
The pandemic presented a challenge for the production of the Atlanta Jazz Festival and while we were not able to present a jazz festival in FY 21, we adjusted our plans to return to Piedmont Park in FY 22, on Labor Day weekend. We shifted our program outreach to a hybrid model due to the pandemic. Through a combination of physical and virtual platforms we were able to deliver meaningful programs and engage the Metro Atlanta and global community. Our public art festival, ELEVATE, pivoted to a hybrid model with limited public displays and virtual interviews, performances and visual art exhibitions in collaboration with local museums and art professionals in cities throughout the country.
A portion of American Rescue Fund dollars were committed to the City, in support of arts and culture, and we utilized that funding to provide relief to our creative community through commissioned artworks for projects like Pandemic Atlanta 20/20. Through our Contracts for Arts Services (now known as Municipal Support for the Arts) grant program, we were able to also offer almost $2 million in much needed support to local artists and arts organizations who met application requirements.
As we move forward, the OCA team remains steadfast in our mission to create opportunities for artistic growth and access to the arts. Over the past year, it has been reassuring to witness Atlanta’s communities coming together to support this city. There is a lot we don’t know about the coming months, but I remain confident in our ability to overcome this global challenge and come out of it even stronger. We are counting on your continued support of our creative economy, ensuring that our local arts community continues to thrive.
Yours in art and culture,
Camille Russell Love, Executive Director
Previous Annual Reports
City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ FY 20 Annual Report
City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ FY 19 Annual Report
City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ FY 18 Annual Report
City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ FY 17 Annual Report
City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ FY 16 Annual Report
City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ FY 15 Annual Report