​The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) annual ELEVATE public art festival recently partnered with Facebook to install five new murals, which are a part of this year’s festival — presented digitally on the ELEVATE website, Facebook, and YouTube from October 4 to 10.

With 2020 marking a pivotal election year, Facebook launched the “Voting is Voice” campaign and set a goal to register 4 million new voters during the largest voter drive in U.S. history. Facebook’s partnership with the OCA and ELEVATE was a natural fit as the festival will explore the concept of social justice and equity through this year’s programming.

​For the “Voting is Voice” campaign, five artists from across the U.S. created original artwork commissions in response to the prompt “Voting is Voice.” Within this theme, each artist explored voting as a powerful tool of the personal and collective voice, the importance of a diversity of voices to a healthy society, the powerful impact of personal narratives as vehicles for change, and our collective responsibility to acknowledge and amplify a broad spectrum of voices. These five murals are a part of Facebook’s push to increase voter engagement and participation during this election year.

Each mural will feature the artist’s bio, Q.R. codes, and URLs that direct viewers to Facebook and Instagram’s Voting Information Center, where they can find more information on the 2020 U.S. election and a quick and easy way to register to vote.

In addition, the murals encourage public interaction through compelling, relevant design & digital features that create multiple levels of access for every member of the community.

This year’s ELEVATE Art Festival examines arts and culture through the lens of our changed reality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have experienced racial unrest, economic recession, isolation due to social distancing, and a divisive political climate. The festival theme is Equity, Activism, Engagement, and through our programs we seek to provide hope, inspiration, and food for your soul. Join this year’s free virtual programs from Sunday, October 4 through Saturday, October 10.  It’ll be streaming live via Facebook, YouTube and website. Check elevateatlart.com for details.  Below is the music lineup.

This year’s ELEVATE Art Festival examines arts and culture through the lens of our changed reality due to the COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest, economic recession, and a divisive political climate. Dance performances being presented are dazzling, dreamlike, and defiant. They provide insight into issues that we, and our communities, are dealing with including inequity, food insecurity, and isolation, but also seek to inspire hope, resilience, and activism as we move forward. Join this year’s virtual programming from Sunday, October 4 through Saturday, October 10.

The 74th annual Bronner Bros. Int’l Beauty Show (BB) returns with an all-new virtual format to provide salon pros the education and skills needed to adapt and evolve during COVID-19. The tech-powered platform is designed to meet the unique needs of barbers, stylists, and cosmetology students in the growing multicultural industry. Hosted on September 26th & 27th, the event will feature more than 60 master classes and 100 exhibitors from around the world. This is the nation’s first and largest virtual beauty show of its kind.
​To register, visit bronnerbros.com.

​As the impact of COVID-19 ripples through the multicultural beauty community, salon professionals, manufacturers and suppliers are facing unforeseen challenges. Due to the pandemic, BB cancelled the company’s in-person event for the first time in its history.

​The virtual Show’s agenda is dedicated to continuing education and celebrating the culture. Programming includes classes taught by some of the industry’s foremost artistic teams, global educators and business experts. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the virtual platform to sharpen their skills. 

​Other virtual Show highlights include:

• Digital Marketplace: Attendees can connect with exhibitors to preview and buy new products and services. Sponsors and partners include Allied Beauty Association (ABA) Canada, Andis, EAP Heat, and UPS, among others.
• Master classes:  Classes for barbers and stylists at all levels; Learn the latest techniques on cut, color, weaves, natural haircare, barbering and more.
• Business panels: Interactive discussions on topics such as safely re-opening your salon or barbershop, disaster proofing your business, and maintaining your health behind-the-chair.
• Competitions: Live streams featuring some of the industry’s top talent as they battle for cash and prizes on the virtual main stage.
• Charles Gregory Tribute:  Special presentation honoring beauty industry legend and icon, Charles Gregory. He was best known for revolutionizing the industry with his ready-to-wear cuts. For more than three decades, Mr. Gregory served as a master educator and judge for the BB Show and BB® Professional.

NEWS SOURCE:  Hatchett PR

​The City of Atlanta - Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will bring its annual ELEVATE public art festival to Atlanta’s historic West End neighborhood from Sunday, October 4 to Saturday, October 10, 2020. This year’s festival events will be virtual. 

​• Musical performances by Kebbi Williams and The Wolf Pack, The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra, Gritz and Jelly Butter, Tony Hightower, and Julie Dexter. 
​• Mural installations honoring civil rights leader Reverend James Orange and Black women activists from the West End community. 
• An online and in person voter registration event at the West End MARTA station. 
• A conversation with New York Times best-selling authors Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones, who frequently feature Atlanta’s West End community in their work.  
• The opening of Hammonds House Museum’s exhibition Elements of A Revolution. 
• A conversation between the executive directors of Atlanta Contemporary and Les Abattoirs/Toulouse to discuss challenges of promoting art during COVID-19, issues of gender equality and racism in their field. Since 1974 Atlanta and Toulouse have been Sister Cities. 
• A screening of the stirring new documentary, “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” an intimate account of the legendary U.S. Representative’s life, legacy, and more than 60 years of extraordinary activism. 
• An Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance of Lazarus created by acclaimed hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris. The ballet connects the past and the present in a powerful work that addresses racial inequities America faced when Mr. Ailey founded his dance company in 1958 and still faces today.
• Renowned artist Carrie Mae Weems, in collaboration with SCAD, will launch RESIST COVID/TAKE 6, a public art initiative raising critical heath awareness about COVID-19 and the ways racial inequities have manifested in the pandemic. 

​​Are you ready for Tyler Perry's "Madea's Farewell" Play?
​Catch it streaming on Aug 27th only on BET+

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​In response to the immense toll of the combined forces of COVID-19, recent racial unrest, and the intense economic instability currently facing many BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities, Burnaway will award ten grants of $500 ($5,000 total) to Black, Indigenous, and other artists of color in the South. You can contribute to this fund here.

BIPOC artists living and working in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia are eligible to apply for this grant. While all BIPOC artists in our coverage region are invited to apply, special consideration will be given to Black and Indigenous artists.

Applications are due by 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday, July 12. Grantees will be notified by Wednesday, July 15.

Can you find Jermaine Sain singing in this video?
Happy Birthday (Gospel Style)

​Established by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the CreATL Relief Fund facilitates private philanthropic grants to the independent creative industry workforce engaged in creative industries and entertainment. Artists, creative entrepreneurs and entertainment professionals generate an estimated $62.5 billion in economic impact each year in the State of Georgia and represent 5% of all employment and 4% of all business revenue in the state. This Fund provides a means of addressing the negative economic impact of the measures taken to control the novel COVID-19 virus in the U.S., Georgia, and particularly in the city of Atlanta.