City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs

233 Peachtree Street, NE
Harris Tower, 17th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303

The City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA), a division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, was established in 1974 to encourage and support Atlanta’s cultural resources. The initial mission was to solidify the role that arts and other cultural resources play in defining and enhancing the social fabric and quality of life of Atlanta citizens and visitors.

Today the OCA is working to enhance Atlanta’s reputation as a cultural destination. The OCA supports programs that educate and expose the public to a rich and diverse range of cultural expressions through a variety of initiatives:

Annually, the OCA presents the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the largest free jazz festival in the nation featuring the most admired jazz artists in the world. The OCA administers the Percent-for-Art program, commissioning scores of artists to create public artworks throughout the city. The OCA supports the professional arts community with Contracts for Arts Services, awarding contracts for the production, creation, presentation, exhibition and managerial support of artistic and cultural services.

Other cultural programs include: ARTSCool, an arts based employment program that provide young people with arts and job training, a salary and positive cultural experience to enhance their personal development. Summer Murals, which engages artists and children in the creation of artwork that serves as a catalyst for the beautification and enrichment of Atlanta through murals.The Chastain Art Center, established in 1968, and is now the oldest City-operated arts facility in Atlanta. City Gallery East, the largest continuous gallery in Atlanta, dedicated to presenting contemporary fine art by local and regional artists. The City Gallery at Chastain, a venue dedicated to innovative exhibitions by local, regional, national and international artists. The Gilbert House which stands as a tribute to the spirit of Atlanta citizens who rebuilt their city following the devastation of the Civil War. The Atlanta Cyclorama, one of Georgia’s most notable historical attractions featuring a panoramic painting depicting the Battle of Atlanta, which took place during the American Civil War.

The OCA understands that the arts play an essential role in defining the cultural life of the city and seek to provide programs that contribute substantially to the city’s economy and quality of life.