11/2/2023
East Atlanta Kids Club 25th Anniversary Gala
Pop-Up Exhibition
The East Atlanta Kids Club (EAKC) and ABV partnered up for EAKC’s 25th Anniversary Gala. East Atlanta Kids Club (EAKC) gives local children a safe and stimulating place when out of school.
East Atlanta Kids Club (EAKC) was founded in 1998 as a place for kids and teens to engage in safe, structured after-school programming with caring adults and mentors. Against the backdrop of a quickly gentrifying neighborhood, EAKC has long served as an anchor for kids, teens, and families who are placed at risk through no fault of their own.
Now in its 25th year, this organization has served 1,300+ kids and teens through their year-round, no-cost after-school and summer camp programming. EAKC has become a cornerstone of its community as well as a model for similar organizations throughout the Atlanta area.
To spotlight this incredible organization and team we curated a lineup of Atlanta-based artists interested in creating works inspired by the children involved in EAKC’s community programming.
The annual EAKC gala attracts influential individuals from the Atlanta community including philanthropists, art enthusiasts, and supporters of the East Atlanta Kids Club. The artworks were be auctioned off during the course of the event and proceeds were divided between both the artist and the ongoing programs/initiatives of the organization.
This partnership began with a ‘meet and greet’ coordinated by both the ABV team and the Kids Club. During this afternoon, the 10 artists visited the center and spent a few hours encouraging the kids and teaching them more about their individual artistic approaches and style.
This afternoon began with a large group activity where all children were invited to create small drawings on pieces of cardstock while the artists and staff walked around and interacted. Artists were then paired up with a group of 10 pre-selected children and taken to a separate classroom to begin work on 1x1 ft canvases. Each pair was prompted to create a work inspired by the theme of the gala ‘Building Our Beloved Community’ but were allowed total creative freedom!
This short ‘meet and greet’ experience was held to create inspiration for each artist to use to create an original piece which would then be auctioned off at the annual EAKC gala the following month.
The 25th Anniversary Gala took place on November 2, 2023, at the Trolley Barn in East Atlanta. ABV installed and coordinated the auction which included set-up, breakdown, content capture, and the management of the silent auction.
The art was displayed in a lofted area that overlooked the festivities of the evening. Each piece was displayed alongside a statement from both the artists and the child they were partnered with as well as the original canvas the two created together. With these works, attendees were able to directly view the inspiration for the pieces they were bidding on!
Featured Artwork
