MARTA Artbound Residency
Background
Although MARTA has had public art in its train stations since the late 1970’s, in 2017 a new program, Artbound, was launched to connect with ridership, build community, and enhance the look and feel of the stations. Since then, MARTA Artbound has installed over 30 permanent and temporary works of art, put on hundreds of live performances, and established a Station Music program called Artbound LIVE. Artbound strives to build community and pride in the transit system by meeting people where they are with arts and culture.
Some of our most beloved installations have been those that involve MARTA riders in the game. With “Railtalk”, people were invited to “leave a kind word or share a thought” with their fellow passengers on magnetized boards throughout the system. Thousands of people participated and documented their “Railtalk” on social media. Similarly, MARTA riders have played the “Pianos for Peace” located at many of our stations, and often duet or sit in with willing Artbound LIVE musicians at their station gigs. The MARTA ridership is creative, personable, and ready to be a part of the art.
User-friendly AI applications have opened a new medium to artists and a new type of interactive capability. While AI use in artmaking will likely be controversial to art consumers, for artists, it’s just another tool and it will be explored and exploited to its fullest potential. It presents an excellent opportunity to engage MARTA’s ridership in a new type of artmaking or participatory art.
Challenges
A persistent challenge facing MARTA Artbound is 'reach'. The MARTA rail and bus system covers three of the largest counties in the state and has over 1,400 miles of bus routes.
- It is costly and resource-intensive to replicate an interactive art project for MARTA riders at all 38 train stations. Typically Artbound will identify 1 – 5 of the highest ridership stations to locate public artworks. This results in many riders potentially not having the chance to take part in or enjoy the art.
- Train customers make up only a portion of our ridership. More metro Atlantans ride the buses.
- Some bus passengers may rarely or never come into a train station, therefore not getting to experience Artbound’s offerings.
Prompt
Leverage AI technology to design one or a series of interactive public art experiences that engage and empower all of MARTA's ridership to actively participate in and co-create the artworks on display.
A&E Atlanta Residency
Background
Established in 2017 by Atlanta City Council legislation and managed by the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID), Arts & Entertainment Atlanta (A&E Atlanta) is a neighborhood activation and economic development project for Downtown Atlanta.
A&E Atlanta fuses new media, local art, and performance with advertising to fund cultural and public space programming in the city’s core. The goal of A&E Atlanta is to bring creative energy to the heart of Downtown Atlanta, highlighting the extraordinary work of commissioned artists and livening up the Downtown walls, streets, and sidewalks.
Through a unique partnership with media companies and property owners, A&E Atlanta activates spaces through outdoor media, local art, and advertising, helps to redefine Downtown living, and provides artists a platform to display their vivid ideas and spur conversation, excitement, and reflection.
Challenges
A&E Atlanta is entering its fourth year of programming and intends to elevate its digital sign messaging by exploring innovative and interactive approaches to engage the diverse downtown community of residents, students, workers, and visitors.
Prompt
How can the A&E Atlanta digital platform become more interactive and simultaneously provide meaningful and exciting content authentic to downtown?
What innovative technology and art can be employed on the screens to inform and educate the public about the A&E District and its programs?