Atlanta Contemporary Art Center

Atlanta Contemporary is a nonprofit, non-collecting institution located in the West Midtown district of Atlanta. It is dedicated to the creation, presentation, and advancement of contemporary art by emerging and established artists. It creates a diverse cultural landscape for artists, arts professionals, and the art-interested public through its exhibitions, educational programs, and Studio Artist Program.Atlanta Contemporary presents 6-10 exhibitions per year featuring consequential artists from the local to international art scenes and is one of few Atlanta institutions that commissions new works by artists, paying particular attention to artists of note who have not had a significant exhibition in the Southeast. It organizes approximately 50 diverse educational programs a year, as well as provides on-site, subsidized studio space to 14 local artists through its Studio Artist Program. Atlanta Contemporary offers free admission every day.HistoryFounded in 1973 by a group of Atlanta photographers, Atlanta Contemporary was originally called "Nexus" and began as a storefront cooperative gallery supported by member dues and staffed by volunteers. In 1976, the organization leased an old elementary school and began to expand its programs, formalize its infrastructure, and house a number of resident organizations. In 1984, the name was changed to Nexus Contemporary Art Center to reflect the organization’s mission and role in the community. Nexus Press, dedicated to creating unique publications by invited artists, was begun, and studio spaces for working artists became a core part of the organization.In 1987, seeking a permanent home, the board completed a $1.95 million capital campaign to renovate a 35,000 square-foot warehouse complex on Means Street near the Georgia Tech campus. In 1989, the organization began a phased renovation program. Completed in1994, Nexus became a catalyst for urban renewal in the historic industrial district of the Westside.