Letter from Leadership: Our New Strategic Plan & Executive Director Search

Dear Friends, Artists, Patrons and Supporters,

We are thrilled to share some exciting developments at Atlanta Contemporary as we unveil our new strategic plan and embark on finding the right leader to guide us into our next chapter.

A Bold New Vision for Our Future

After months of thoughtful planning and community input, we've just released our comprehensive 2025-2028 strategic plan. This roadmap builds on what we do best—advancing contemporary art by supporting artists, fostering experimentation and connecting audiences to new ideas. Our vision will amplify the core work that matters most: helping artists deepen and expand their creative practice while creating exhibitions and programs that spark meaningful cultural dialogue across our global, national and local artist communities.

Putting Artists First, Building for Impact

Our strategic plan centers on three key priorities: putting artists at the heart of everything we do and shaping important conversations, reconnecting with our purpose and strengthening our day-to-day operations. This approach honors our incredible 50+ year legacy while investing in the people, systems and facilities we need to grow sustainably, reach more people and create lasting impact in our community.

Building Strength for the Long Haul

We're actively working to make Atlanta Contemporary more resilient by growing our team, diversifying how we raise funds and improving our internal operations. The strategic plan gives us clear goals for expanding revenue streams and developing fundraising approaches that will help us rely less on grants and build a more sustainable foundation for our ambitious programming.

Keeping Art Accessible to Everyone

Our commitment to free admission and welcoming programming ensures that contemporary art remains accessible to our entire community. The strategic plan focuses on deepening these relationships through better storytelling, growing our membership and expanding our educational offerings. We want to stay true to our open-door values while building a stronger, more engaged community of supporters.

Finding Our Next Leader

We're excited to announce our Executive Director Search Committee, which is beginning the process of finding dynamic leadership to bring our ambitious strategic plan to life. From our board of directors we have James Ford-Hutchinson, Chip Moody and Robin Stenzel, who will serve as chair. We're also welcoming two external representatives to the committee: Tim Schrager and Charlene Crusoe-Ingram. Tim and Charlene are both deeply connected to Atlanta's arts community and former board members at Atlanta Contemporary. Tim founded Perennial Properties, a real estate development firm, and Charlene currently serves as CEO of Meals on Wheels Atlanta. Both also serve on the board at the High Museum. Their expertise will help us attract exceptional leadership that will drive our vision forward and elevate our role as a leading contemporary art center.

Your support means everything to us as we start this exciting journey. Atlanta Contemporary has been part of our cultural fabric for over 50 years, and with this strategic foundation and new leadership, we're ready to make an even bigger difference in the years ahead.

Thank you for being part of our community and for your continued commitment to contemporary art in Atlanta.

With gratitude,

Amanda Rhein, Acting Chair, Board of Directors

Everett Long, Interim Executive Director