News Briefs: Dashboard’s new executive director; Atlanta Art Week postponed; 2027 Edge Award announced; Atlanta History Center celebrates 100 years; Center for Puppetry Arts revives touring shows; EarthGang launches comic book

On May 11, celebrated curator and arts professional Lauren Jackson Harris will assume the role of executive director of Dashboard. This local nonprofit arts organization has infused public spaces with innovative artwork installations since 2010, when it was founded by Courtney Hammond and Beth Malone as a co-op to transform vacant buildings through art. In the years since, the team has completed numerous large-scale immersive installations and nontraditional gallery exhibitions and provided grant funding for artists, as well as event design and public programming. Harris’ extensive experience includes leadership roles, curation, arts consulting, education and program development that will support the efforts of Dashboard as it continues providing thoughtful arts experiences across Atlanta and beyond. “It brings me great joy to see Lauren step into this role and help shape Dashboard’s next chapter,” said Oshun Layne, who will step down from the role of executive director of Dashboard after a four-year tenure. “This organization has always been rooted in care for creatives and communities, and we are confident that Lauren will carry that forward while expanding our mission with intention and imagination. She brings a thoughtful and distinctive lens to the arts across the region. Her curatorial vision, strategic clarity and deeply relational approach to engagement and leadership will continue to move Dashboard’s work forward with purpose.” Harris has served on Dashboard’s board of directors since January 2024. 

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Atlanta Art Week has announced that it will postpone its 2026 event. Founded in 2022 by art adviser Kendra Walker, alongside lead partner SUTTON, the ambitious annual citywide initiative enlisted galleries, museums, artists and collectors to explore art at various sites throughout the city. In its first year, the event attracted 2,000 ticket holders and included prestigious arts institutions such as the High Museum of Art, Atlanta Contemporary, the Coca-Cola Company and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “This determination reflects current market conditions and the level of infrastructure, stability and alignment required to responsibly deliver the experience expected by collectors, partners and participating galleries,” reads the official statement from Atlanta Art Week. “This postponement is not a commentary on the creative merit present within Atlanta but rather an assessment of the broader ecosystem conditions necessary to support a cohesive and sustainable art week of this caliber.” 

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The Forward Arts Foundation (FAF) and Swan Coach House Gallery have announced Amanda Grae Platner as the winner of the prestigious 2027 Edge Award. This juried recognition supports early- to mid-career artists in Atlanta with a $10,000 cash award, a two-week residency at the Hambidge Center and a solo exhibition at the Swan Coach House Gallery in April of 2027. “We are so excited to support Amanda’s work over the next year,” said Lorri McClain, chair of the Edge Award, in a press release. “She is without a doubt one of the best painters this program has seen. We cannot wait for her solo exhibition at the Swan Coach House Gallery next April.” The four other finalists — Monica Campana, Victoria Garcia, Makeda Lewis and Ezekiel Robinson — will each receive a $2,000 cash award and will have a piece included in the Edge Award Exhibition.

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This year, the Atlanta History Center is celebrating 100 years as one of the nation’s premier history institutions. Located in Buckhead on a sprawling 33-acre campus, the facility includes gallery exhibition space, lovingly preserved historic homes and beautifully manicured gardens, in addition to a robust collection of historical images and documents in the Kenan Research Center. On April 25, a dynamic exhibition will extend across the property with a self-guided, treasure-hunt style experience to accompany the release of a vibrant coffee table book, Atlanta in 100 Objects: A Century of Stories. The book includes iconic and unexpected objects that visually trace the history of the city from its founding as a transportation hub to its role in the American Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement and into the present day. “At the 100-year point, it is important to pause and reflect on what has been accomplished,” said Sheffield Hale, president and CEO of the Atlanta History Center in an official statement. “Within these pages are 100 examples of the many stories that can be told about our collective past, offering perspectives and insights that help inform our city’s future. When experienced across our campus, the breadth and diversity of our collection comes to life in a way that ensures every visitor will discover something unexpected — objects and stories they’ve likely never encountered before.”

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The Center for Puppetry Arts has announced that it will relaunch its touring shows program after a 17-year hiatus. Debuting with a pilot residency in Hall County this month, the Center’s production of Owl at Home will be brought to around 2,000 elementary students over a two-week run at Brenau University’s Hosch Theatre from April 22 through April 30. Offering fully staged live theater accompanied by virtual create-a-puppet workshops, children will be able to experience the magic of live performances that will encourage empathy, social-emotional learning and the importance of storytelling through art. “We are thrilled to re-introduce touring as a vital part of delivering on our mission,” said Beth Schiavo, executive director of the Center for Puppetry Arts. “This initiative allows us to reach students where they are and provide meaningful arts experiences that spark creativity, curiosity and learning.” This initiative is funded by the Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation, which will ensure that young children in Hall County will gain free access to live puppetry theater, all while re-igniting the touring programs offered by the Center for Puppetry Arts.

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EarthGang, a Grammy-nominated American hip-hop duo from Atlanta known for its innovative blend of Southern and psychedelic hip-hop with underground rap, is launching into print with a new comic series called Wheel of Fate. This story-driven project tells the tale of the two rappers as they embark on a surreal adventure to prevent the unraveling of reality and destruction of humanity. In the inaugural issue, EarthGang is in Tokyo, where they connect with something ancient through their music and soon learn they may be able to prevent destruction from a sentient AI. The tale was written by Olu and WowGr8 — the MCs of EarthGang — and illustrated by artists Julianne Grieppe and Alex Heywood. A limited merch drop will accompany the inaugural issue’s release.