A visit to Atlanta museums, the performing arts or the theaters in Atlanta is a lesson in cultural enrichment. Science museums, renowned art exhibits, masterful performances of music and dance captivate audiences across the cultural spectrum. World premiere productions draw audiences to the Alliance Theatre, while the Grammy Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performs to audiences year-round. The leading art museum in Atlanta is the High Museum of Art. Kids and kids at heart enjoy the magic of puppetry at the Center for Puppetry Arts, while opera and ballet lovers have a place to see and hear stunning productions.
 |
7 Stages
7 Stages is a theatre company committed to educating and engaging audiences about current social topics. In addition to producing its own works, 7 Stages is also home to local dance and acting groups without a permanent facility. |
|
 |
Actor's Express Theatre
Actor’s Express Theatre (AE), founded in 1988, is continually lauded for its cutting-edge productions. Dedicated to enhancing Atlanta’s acting community, AE offers workshops and classes for all ability levels. Through its daring plays, AE has brought Atlanta into the spotlight of live performance. |
|
 |
Alliance Theatre
Part of the Woodruff Arts Center, the Alliance Theatre is one of the largest regional theaters in the nation. Serving a diverse audience, the Alliance has produced more than 50 world premieres bringing the world's best talents to Atlanta. |
|
 |
Atlanta Botanical Garden
With more than 30 acres of gardens, forest, wildflower trails, and a 10,000 square-foot Fuqua Orchid Center, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is one of Atlanta’s most beautiful attractions. The Canopy Walk, a 40-foot high suspension bridge creating a treetop walking trail is the garden’s latest addition. Visitors will also enjoy the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen and soothing sanctuary of the Cascades Garden.
|
|
 |
Atlanta Braves Museum and Hall of Fame
Atlanta Braves Museum and Hall of Fame features more than 135 years of history and 600 pieces of memorabilia. The museum is open year-round and offers guided as well as self-guided tours. |
|
 |
Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, also know as The Contemporary, exhibits works from lesser-known local and national artists who have contributed to current changes in society. As a non-collecting gallery, it features continuously-changing exhibits. |
|
 |
Atlanta Cyclorama
Atlanta Cyclorama is a rotating theatre which displays the world’s largest oil painting, “The Battle of Atlanta.” This Civil War museum features memorabilia and the locomotive "TEXAS,” as well as period paintings and photographs. |
|
 |
Atlanta History Center
The Atlanta History Center features 32 acres of gardens, wildlife trails and woodland areas. The complex includes the 1840s Tullie Smith Farm and the fully restored 1928 Swan House mansion. The museum offers exhibitions on the Civil War, African-American heritage and Southern folk art, with a wing dedicated to the 1996 Olympic Games. |
|
 |
Atlanta Opera and the Atlanta Ballet
The Atlanta Opera offers four main stage productions seasonally, in addition to pre-Opera lectures, student matinees and more. Atlanta Ballet is the oldest professional dance company in America. Performances combine contemporary and traditional with classic ballets and new choreography. Both companies perform at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. |
|
 |
Atlantic Station
Great boutiques, sidewalk cafes and hip restaurants reign at Atlantic Station, designed to feel like a city within a city. Free shuttles are available from the Arts Center MARTA Station. The Millennium Gate showcases world-class architecture, art and history in an intimate gallery setting and beautiful grounds. |
|
 |
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chastain Park Amphitheater
Part of the Woodruff Art Center, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and its recordings have earned international acclaim with 27 Grammy Awards. If you want to listen to the divinity of the ASO under the stars, visit the new Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, located just north of Atlanta. For more music in the great outdoors, visit the Chastain Park Amphitheatre, where moonlit dinner performances featuring big music stars make for a great date night. |
|
 |
Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center
The Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center boasts the Southeast’s largest performing arts stage. It has hosted innumerable Broadway plays, musicals and concerts, as well as conferences and events. |
|
 |
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center is a 27,000-square-foot historic mansion which now serves as a non-profit community center for Atlanta’s arts. It hosts jazz musicians and gallery exhibits as well as art classes and workshops for all ages. |
|
 |
Castleberry Hill 2nd Friday Art Stroll
Castleberry Hill 2nd Friday Art Stoll is a free, monthly event in which the neighborhood art galleries are open late into the evening. Guests are invited to sip wine and wander through the galleries or enjoy samples from street vendors and live entertainment at local businesses. |
|
 |
Center for Puppetry Arts
As the largest organization in North America dedicated to the art of puppetry, the Center for Puppetry Arts features the nation’s largest interactive museum, Puppets: The Power of Wonder. Weekly performances include a fun family series and New Directions for adults. |
|
 |
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre hosts some of Atlanta’s premier performers including the Atlanta Broadway Series, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Atlanta Ballet. |
|
 |
Dad’s Garage Theatre Co.
Dad’s Garage Theatre Co. is the cornerstone of Atlanta’s improvisational comedy scene. Founded in 1994, Dad’s features original plays and musicals as well as stand-up comedians. Customized workshops are also available for actors of all ability levels. |
|
 |
DE Fine Art Gallery
De Fine Art Gallery is one of Atlanta’s primary source for authentic European paintings. Located in Buckhead, the gallery exhibits classic and contemporary works from more than 30 leading artists. |
|
 |
Decatur Square
The charming, quirky neighborhood of Decatur is found just six miles east of downtown. Friendly, walkable and right on the MARTA line, this community is home to more than 200 boutiques, restaurants and galleries. Eddie’s Attic is a must-see for live, local musicians. Year-round festivals include the Arts Festival in May, the Beach Party in June and the Book Festival on Labor Day weekend. |
|
 |
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Fernbank Museum of Natural History brings the world's largest dinosaurs to life, and explores global cultures through a variety of hands-on exhibits. Enjoy a classy mix of culture and cocktails with Martinis & IMAX® every Friday night. |
|
 |
Ferst Center
Located in the heart of the Georgia Tech campus, the Ferst Center is a brilliant showcase for the presentation of concerts, lectures, dance, film and theater. This state-of-the-art facility houses an auditorium of 1,159 seats and features a proscenium stage, orchestra pit, and theatrical lighting and sound systems. |
|
 |
Festivals Galore
Midtown offers plenty of family fun with year-round festivals. Spring brings local artisans to the streets during the Dogwood Festival and musicians serenade the city during the Atlanta Jazz Festival. The National Black Arts Festival heats up summer, while Taste of Atlanta spices up cuisines with fall flavors. |
|
 |
The Fox Theatre
Designed in the late 1920s, this opulent, historic landmark was originally the Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque. Today, The Fox Theatre presents shows by Broadway in Atlanta and Theater of the Stars, as well as a summer movie series. It is also home to the Atlanta Ballet’s premier, annual performance of “Nutcracker.” |
|
 |
Georgia Shakespeare
Georgia Shakespeare is a theatrical group dedicated to performing reenactments and contemporary revisions of William Shakespeare’s work. The troupe performs at the Conant Performing Arts Center, a part of Oglethorpe University. |
|
 |
Hammonds House Galleries
Hammonds House Galleries is located within the historic home of the late Dr. Otis Thrash Hammonds, one of Atlanta’s prominent African-American physicians. Home to more than 350 works in many mediums from the mid-19th century and onward, it is Georgia’s only museum dedicated to African-American art. |
|
 |
High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art offers a diverse selection of art including 19th-20th century American works, European paintings, African and African-American, modern and contemporary art. The High is the leading art museum in the Southeast, and a part of the Woodruff Arts Center. |
|
 |
Historic Neighbors
The Marietta Historic District offers tours of the town and heritage museums. Visit the Square for specialty and antique shops, dining and entertainment, including two must see attractions, Marietta Gone With The Wind Museum: Scarlett on the Square and the Theatre In The Square. Tour antebellum homes in the Historic Roswell District, including the 1845 Smith Plantation. Visitors can also enjoy Bulloch Hall, the childhood home of Former President Theodore Roosevelt’s mother and the Georgia Ensemble Theatre. |
|
 |
Horizon Theatre Company
Horizon Theatre Company, founded in 1983, is known for producing world-premier plays. With a talent for exceptional ensemble acting, this company regularly performs plays which reflect the ever-changing diversity in southeast urban areas. |
|
 |
Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta
Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta features hands-on exhibits and activities where kids can discover, imagine and explore as they learn how things work in their world. Whether it’s building a sandcastle, painting on the walls, or exploring the latest exhibit, children will discover why it’s a smart place to play! |
|
 |
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is an opportunity to learn about the life and work of the 39th president’s life. Explore an exact replica of the Oval Office, view special exhibits, and listen to oral histories and interviews from the Carter White House. You will also trace Carter’s life from his 6th grade report card to his 2002 Nobel Peace Prize. |
|
 |
Marcia Wood Gallery
Marcia Wood Gallery, located Downtown, features contemporary pieces by international artists. |
|
 |
Margaret Mitchell House
The three-story Tudor Revival mansion in Midtown was the home of author Margaret Mitchell, where she wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Gone With the Wind. The house offers tours, a museum and shop, as well as a literature series. |
|
 |
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site & Sweet Auburn District
The area of Sweet Auburn served as the thriving center of Atlanta’s Black enterprise from the 1890s to the 1940s. At the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, explore his birth home, historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, and The King Center, where Dr. King’s Nobel Peace Prize is displayed. The crypt and gravesite of Dr. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King, are also located here. |
|
 |
Michael C. Carlos Museum
Travel through space and time in the Michael C. Carlos Museum galleries where ancient objects from Egypt, Nubia, Near East, Greece, Rome, Asia, Africa and the Americas introduce visitors to the artistic culture and heritage of the world. Exhibited in the landmark building designed by noted architect Michael Graves, this collection also includes works on paper from the renaissance to the present day. Specials exhibitions and educational events tell the glorious stories of civilization. |
|
 |
Midtown Walking and Bicycling Tours
Midtown walking and biking tours are available for many Atlanta attractions. Provided by The Atlanta Preservation Center, walking tours include historic neighborhoods and prominent buildings such as The Fox Theatre, one of the few remaining movie palaces of the 1920s. Bicycle Tours of Atlanta caters to many ability levels and features numerous options across the city, such as the Heart of the City Tour. The Progressive Dinner Bicycle Tour lets you experience Atlanta’s coveted cuisine while burning a few calories. |
|
 |
Museum of Design Atlanta
Museum of Design Atlanta commonly referred to as MODA, explores the intricate designs present in daily life. A one-of-kind in the Southeast, MODA exhibitions give a unique perspective to everyday objects such as furniture, products and fashion, as well as architecture and industrial design. |
|
 |
New American Shakespeare Tavern
The New American Shakespeare Tavern is a riveting rendition of dinner theatre. Performing comedic interpretations and long-loved favorites of Shakespeare’s plays, the Tavern also offers full meals, snacks and an array of beverages. |
|
 |
Oglethorpe University Museum of Art
Oglethorpe University Museum of Art provides Atlanta with innovative exhibits. Since its inception, the 7,000-square-foot museum has housed exhibits of international acclaim, including a collection of sacred Tibetan objects, 18th-century paintings of Rome and Venice, as well as never-before-seen pieces by Salvador Dali. |
|
 |
Rialto Center for the Arts
The Rialto Center for the Arts, located at Georgia State University, hosts world-renowned performers. An 833-seat venue, the Rialto presents jazz, international music and local talents. It is also home to many contemporary dance and cabaret shows. |
|
 |
Savannah College of Art & Design
Savannah College of Art & Design’s (SCAD) Atlanta Campus offers ongoing art exhibitions at its gallery, located at the Woodruff Arts Center. SCAD also restored the historic Peters House into Ivy Hall, which now hosts cultural events. |
|
 |
Swan Coach House Gallery
Swan Coach House Gallery, located on the campus of the Atlanta History Center, exhibits contemporary works in multiple mediums by both established and upcoming Southern artists. |
|
 |
TEW Galleries, Inc.
TEW Galleries, Inc. is Atlanta’s leading contemporary fine art institution. Founded in 1987, the three-story town house-turned-art-gallery houses works in many genres, including abstract, landscape, and figurative art. |
|
 |
Theatrical Outfit
Theatrical Outfit at the Balzer Theatre at Herren’s is Atlanta’s third-oldest professional theatre troupe. It produces multi-genre plays and musicals and also operates an extensive public school outreach program. |
|
 |
William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum
Through its exhibitions, publications and resources, this Atlanta Jewish Federation museum explores Jewish heritage and how it relates to other cultures and religions. It also contains two permanent galleries and hosts special rotating exhibits. |
|
 |
Wren’s Nest
Wren’s Nest is the historic home of famed author Joel Chandler Harris, author of the Uncle Remus Stories. It is Atlanta’s oldest house museum and features original turn-of-the-century furniture, fashions and personal effects. Children can enjoy a unique story-time every Saturday at 1 p.m. |
|