Gwyneth points out that the unattractive signal boxes around Decatur are looking a lot more spiffy recently.  And she provided this lovely photo!

The Decatur Arts Alliance’s Angie Macon tells us that thanks go out to Larry Holland and his team of artists for making downtown Decatur a little less boring.

If you come across other revitalized signal boxes around Decatur, please send in photos!

So cool!  Thanks Larry!

Back in September 2015, you may recall that Decatur won a $15,000 Atlanta Regional Commission grant to paint a mural on the Trinity Avenue MARTA overpass next to the Beacon Hill complex.  In December, the city held a community kick-off meeting to get input on the mural.

Now the city is looking for an artist to make this project a reality.

The Decatur Arts Alliance is requesting qualifications from artists who are interested in creating the mural.  The project will pay the artist $7,500 for their work.

If interested, there is LOTS more info on the project HERE.

Photos courtesy of Decatur Arts Alliance

The arrival of the Decatur Arts Festival each year means that festival season is officially upon us.  So lace up your strolling shoes, prepare your stoic “I’m looking at art” face, add a couple of notches to your belt to accommodate the “Kettle Corn 5” you’ll be sporting by weekend’s end, and prepare for a lot of – adult and kid alike – whining regarding the rejection of a second King of Pops.  It’s festival time!

The Decatur Arts Festival starts this evening with ArtWalk around the city from 5-10p.  Check out the locations along this year’s walk HERE.  It looks like it’s going to be a warm, but lovely evening.

The Decatur Arts Festival is a DM sponsor

Outta the mouths of Decatur residents.

It’s funny how many times in recent months I’ve heard the statement above called out; each with unique dreams of regional dominance.  “Book Capital!”  “Food Capital!”  “Festival Capital!”

Well, the city is leading up an effort to capture all these individual passions into a single plan. A “Cultural Arts Master Plan”. And next Monday is your last chance to participate and give your feedback.  Here’s all the info you need, all in one colorful poster.

Click to enlarge.

In so many ways, Decatur’s got it buttoned up.

Our budget is top-notch; just ask our creditors.  The city lives and dies by the 10-year strategic development plan.  It’s in love with many of the ideas in it’s newish Community Transportation Plan.  It has an Athletic Facility Master Plan, AND Greenway Plan. And it often pays solemn homage to the grand-daddy plan of them all, The Town Center Plan.  (It’s kind of like our own Federalist Papers of the 1980s)

But in a town of self-proclaimed creative types and smarty-pantses, our arts scene doesn’t have a cohesive purpose down on paper…what you might call an um, plan!  That’s why the city is currently in the process of developing a Cultural Arts Master Plan.

But of course you already know that because you attended Decatur’s Cultural Arts Master Plan meeting a couple weeks back, right?

No?

Well, you might just want to watch this Decatur eLife video on the meeting and listen to what Linda Harris has to tell you…

…and then head on over to the city’s Open City Hall program and give your “official” feedback to the city on the following questions…

What cultural offerings in Decatur are you most proud of? Which offerings have you participated in? What would you like to see in the future? Did you attend a public input session?

Louise writes in with all the details about an upcoming performance…

Louise Runyon Performance Company will present Language / Listening, an evening of dance, poetry and music, on Friday and Saturday, November 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. at Beacon Hill Arts Center Studio Theatre, 410 W. Trinity Place, Decatur. Tickets are $10 and available at the door. For informat ion and directions: 404-728-8991, www. LouiseRunyonPerformance.com.  Dancers Louise Runyon and Tom Bell will be joined by poet Alice Lovelace (www.alicelovelace.com) and the women’s drumming group ConunDrums (www.conundrums.org), combining the multiple languages of movement, touch, words and drums. Themes include drivenness and connection, mother/daughter relationship, evolution and the natural world, and gardening peace. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’ve been wondering why there are workers tearing up the interior of One West Courthouse Square (the big glassy building just west of the courthouse/think Quizno’s), this press release should answer the question.

The Art Institute of Atlanta announces the opening of its first satellite location. The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur opens its doors for classes on January 7 at One West Court Square in Decatur, GA.. Applications are now being accepted.

The announcement goes on to detail programs available at the new satellite location…

Initially, The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur will offer bachelor’s degree programs in advertising, fashion & retail management, graphic design, interior design, media arts & animation, and Web design & interactive media. Associate degree programs will be offered in graphic design, and Web design & interactive media. Diplomas will be awarded in advertising design, digital design, residential interiors, and Web design.

The location’s website is already up and running. Check out all you need to know here.

I’d call this a great “get” for the city. I’m glad to see Decatur knows how to play off its defining characteristics and strengths. Unlike a certain mega-opolis to the west.