Athens Institute for Contemporary Art facts for kids

The Athens Institute for Contemporary Art (also known as ATHICA) is a special place in Athens, Georgia, United States. It's an art gallery that shows contemporary art. "Contemporary art" means art made in our time, usually from the 1960s or 1970s until now. ATHICA is a non-profit organization. This means it uses any money it makes to support its mission, not to make a profit for owners.

How ATHICA Started

A Place for New Art

ATHICA was started in 2001 by Lizzie Zucker Saltz. She is the founder and director. A group called FiveArt, Inc. helped her. They were local people who loved art and wanted to help it grow.

FiveArt, Inc. offered ATHICA a large space. It was about 2,200 square feet (204 square meters) inside a warehouse. This building is in the Chase Street Park area. It's just over a mile away from downtown Athens. The space was fixed up in late 2001. ATHICA was able to use it for a very low rent for many years.

How ATHICA Works

Run by Volunteers

ATHICA is special because it is run completely by volunteers. These are people who give their time for free. A group of people called a board helps guide ATHICA. This board includes local artists and people who work in the art world. It also has students and teachers from the University of Georgia.

What ATHICA Does

Exhibitions and Events

Every year, ATHICA hosts three main art shows. These shows feature contemporary art. The art often explores important ideas about society and the world around us. These exhibitions have shown art from many different artists. Some are from the United States, and some are from other countries. Local newspapers often write reviews about these shows.

ATHICA also hosts other fun events. These can include:

• Music performances
• Plays and dramatic shows
• Panel discussions where people talk about art
• Film screenings

Between the main art shows, ATHICA also offers its space to local artists. This helps artists in the area show their work to the public.