The City of Atlanta has approved a $1 million increase for the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs for fiscal year 2019. The first city budget to be passed under Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms represents a 100% increase from last year’s arts budget, and is the first increase in eight years.
An amendment for the increase was introduced by newly elected council member Amir Farokhi of District 2. The council unanimously approved the increase. Last year, Farokhi hired BURNAWAY cofounder Susannah Darrow as his cultural advisor.
The news follows recent posts on social media shaming Atlanta for its paltry support of the arts, comparing it to “it” cities Nashville, with an arts budget of $2.4 million, and Charlotte, with an enviable. $13.7 million.
It’s not the first time ATL’s self-declared status as the Capital of the South has been challenged by Nashville and Charlotte.
The OCA’s Contracts for Art Services program provides funding for numerous nonprofits in Atlanta, including BURNAWAY.
