Arts Beacon’s new owners promise a commitment to legacy, more arts programming in Grant Park

Spread across three storefronts at The Beacon Atlanta in Grant Park, Arts Beacon offers art classes for kids and adults alike, providing workshops and exhibitions, artist residencies and even a working kiln. For many working and hobby artists, it’s a hub for creativity and community in a part of town that’s sorely lacking in communal art spaces. 

Arts Beacon was founded in 2018 by artist Jena Dost as a means to continue and deepen her artistic practice as well as provide additional opportunities to teach and mentor others. Teaching artists led classes and workshops, which built a natural community of like-minded creatives who frequented the space over the years. Recently, Dost decided it was time to step back from the role of owner, instead switching to focus on overseeing the kiln. When watercolor artist Shannon Kelly heard that Dost was looking to move on, she felt called to step in and keep the dream alive.

Kelly had been teaching classes at Arts Beacon for the past several years, during which time she came to appreciate not only the facility but also the sense of community there. One of her regular students, nurse and educator Becky Wheeler, was also looking to make a change. “When Jena had mentioned wanting to move on, I was like, well, Becky’s awesome. Let’s consider bringing her on,” said Kelly.

Wheeler had been taking classes with Kelly for around a year, during which time she decided she was ready to leave her job in nursing. “She was there for all my angst,” Wheeler said, wryly. “I’m a nurse, so the wellness aspect of this is very appealing to me and how it can really just put you in a different mind frame. Half of the time I would stay a bit longer than I intended to, just because the group was so great and the other people were so much fun. And I’ve made so many new friends this way.”

Under the leadership of the new owners, Arts Beacon will not only continue its programming as usual but also expand. “We teach adult classes, we have kids programming, but we also do fostering of artists and residents,” said Kelly, explaining that they see the overall vision as meeting the three distinct missions. 

“There’s all kinds of ways that community gets built here. It’s pretty exciting to expand on that and to move into a new era but also keep true to the roots of this really magical place where, because I left the classroom, this became my home,” she said. Prior to embarking on her career as a full-time working artist, Kelly taught in public schools for 12 years. 

For both Wheeler and Kelly, part of Arts Beacon’s appeal is its location. “The other thing, too, that I thought was interesting is I don’t feel like there’s enough art in this part of town, which is bizarre to me,” said Wheeler. In a car-centric and sprawling metropolis like Atlanta, proximity is key for arts centers like Beacon Arts, and both Kelly and Wheeler live nearby, which makes attending or teaching classes — and now owning the business — much more feasible. 

Kelly also mentioned that arts venues such as Callanwolde Arts Center and the High Museum of Art can feel intimidating to newcomers, and that’s something they expressly want to avoid at Beacon Arts. “I think it’s more about sort of opening the doors and saying ‘You don’t already need to know everything in order to be welcome here,’” said Kelly.

“Everyone is welcome and everybody can find something that’s going to speak to them. And we really are committed to this idea, because I think making art can be really isolating and also being a grown up in this era can be really isolating. It can be really hard to find people and develop friendships. I like that this can be a mecca where you can come and talk about what you’re reading right now while you’re also learning something that is stretching your mind and having fun.”

In addition to a weekly schedule that changes based on teaching artists’ availability and interests, Arts Beacon offers recurring themed weekend programming. At Arts Beacon, aspiring artists and those looking for a creative outlet alike can find opportunities to try watercolors, portraiture, collage, jewelry-making, journaling, felting, ceramics and more. 

While the Arts Beacon website is currently being redesigned, those interested in keeping up with the growth of the facility are encouraged to give it a follow on Instagram for the most up-to-date information about upcoming events, workshops and summer camps.

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Isadora Pennington is ArtsATL’s senior editor of art + design and dance. An experienced writer and photographer with a deep love for the arts, Isadora founded the Sketchbook newsletter with Rough Draft Atlanta in 2022. She is also president of the Avondale Arts Alliance and director of the Avondale Arts Center.