NON-PROFITS IN FILM The New Empowerment of Atlanta’s Arts Ecosystem The Creatives Project generates a circle of giving for the creative class By Autumn Mur r ay
Jennifer Long
The non-profit organization strives to change the face of Atlanta by giving a voice to those in historically minoritized and marginalized communities that lack an outlet for creative expression.
J ennifer Long, “Shea Love” on Atlanta’s Kiss 104.1 radio station and a host for the Georgia Lottery on WSB-TV, is the new executive director for The Creatives Project (TCP), the city of Atlanta’s first non-profit to support the creative class through affordable housing programs. TCP is focused on continuing to generate a circle of giving through strengthening and uniting arts, education, community, and commerce by creating an empowering arts ecosystem. Through the implementation of crucial and deliberate arts and culture initiatives and leading arts- based education, TCP strives to change the face of Atlanta by giving a voice to those in historically minoritized and marginalized communities that lack an outlet for creative expression. Executive Director Long received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism – Mass Media Arts from Hampton University in Virginia, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration in Strategic Management and Marketing from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. In addition, she has over 20 years of entrepreneurship, non-profit, and corporate experience and has held management positions in network distribution for several entertainment brands. This experience is in addition to her role at Kiss 104.1 and for the Georgia Lottery. The Creatives Project celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2022, and the program will hold its 11 th Annual Ex- hibition, ASCENSION, from February 12 - March 13, 2022. The event will showcase the aesthetic exploration of the 2020-2022 resident artists and their works, as well as selections from their tenure with the non-profit organization. When asked about her role as executive director, Long says, “I manage the operations of the organization
which includes strategy, marketing, communications, programming, and all of the strategic components to en- sure that they are running smoothly and aligned with our bigger vision, which is to support Atlanta-area cre- atives through affordable housing programs.”
Photos by Neda Abdhari
Photo by Jeremy Adamo
She also took time to explain the significance of the exhibition’s name, saying, “ ASCENSION is about taking The Creatives Project to the next level. This involves expanding who the program is available to, and ultimately increasing the number of artists that can be impacted by affordable housing. We are also looking into opening the program to creatives in various industries, where in the past we have mainly focused on visual arts.” And she adds, “I am excited about growing our outreach and continuing to build and strengthen relationships in both the business and residential communities. There are so many opportunities to expand the work that we’re doing and connect with other creatives.” The non-profit organization currently has two programs for creatives—The Creative Community Housing Project (CCHP) and the CCHP Artist-In- Studio Long Term Studio Space. Applications for both programs are reviewed and selected by a panel of judges. CCHP is a two-year residency program supporting emerging, practicing, and mid-level artists by providing special subsidies to provide affordable housing and studio spaces, professional development, and teacher training. The works of all artists participating in the program are showcased at the annual fall exhibition. Then, following participation in the program, the artists give time to underserved communities through outreach organized by TCP’s Community Arts Program. Over the past 10 years, the program has supported more than 40 artists,
and more than 200 young people have had one-on-one mentorships with these artists. The CCHP Artist-In-Studio Long Term Studio Space program provides up to six visual artists with studio spaces and exhibition opportunities for two years. Over the past 10 years, the studio space has been located at The Goat Farm Arts Center, and exhibitions have been hosted in partnership with Atlanta-area developers. This year’s Artist-In-Studio fellows include two filmmakers—Crystal Jin Kim and Artemus Jenkins. Jin Kim is an award-winning filmmaker and visual artist, and several of her short films have screened at U.S. and international film festivals. Artemus is an award-winning filmmaker and documentarian who created the first (and only) documentary detailing the lives and history of Black tattoo artists, entitled Color Outside the Lines . The Creatives Project’s ART-FORCE at the Acad- emy Lofts at Adair Park is the first concept of its kind in the city of Atlanta. It is a symbol of inclusionary neighborhood revitalization and community engagement through the establishment of a live/work atmosphere for artists and creative enthusiasts from throughout the re- gion. The Academy Lofts is a historic renovation project, and its location was formerly the George W. Adair El- ementary School.
IG and Twitter: @creativespro | FB: @thecreativesproject
18 | T H E G E O R G I A H O L L Y WO O D R E V I E W | M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 2 2
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs