The Residency Bridging Art & Technology
Underground Atlanta has long been a space imbued with cultural and historical significance. Thanks to the Public Art Futures Lab, it’s also a hub for innovation, where art and technology intersect to reimagine creative possibilities. The Lab’s Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program stands at the heart of this initiative, fostering an environment where artists can experiment, collaborate, and push the boundaries of their craft.
The Futures Lab
Established in 2022, the Public Art Futures Lab was spearheaded by former Fulton County Arts & Culture Public Manager, Alex Frankcombe, now Director of Arts and Activation at Central Atlanta Progress, to create a platform that marries art and technology. Frankcombe’s vision for the lab was to revolutionize and redefine the role of art through its integration with technology in public spaces. Supported by MARTA Artbound, Atlanta Downtown, and other key partners, the Lab is part of a more significant effort to revitalize the Underground Atlanta area, positioning it as a creative and technological epicenter. The Lab offers workshops, access to state-of-the-art equipment, and studio space, all aimed at democratizing access to the tools and expertise that make cutting-edge public art possible.
“The Futures Lab stands as the first program of its kind to operate under the auspices of a government entity, connecting tens of thousands of community members — from children to senior citizens — to the transformative power of art and technology,” says Tisha Smith, Fulton County Public Art Manager.
A Residency Program Like No Other
The AiR program was the catalyst for the Futures Lab and continues to be its flagship initiative. Open to artists in the Atlanta metropolitan area, the program provides a 14-week residency designed to empower creators working at the intersection of art and technology. Participants receive administrative support, a financial stipend, and access to various tools — including VR headsets, 3D graphics workstations, and multimedia production equipment — to bring their visions to life.
“My residency was in partnership with A&E Atlanta, meaning that part of my work involved transforming my project into visuals for A&E digital signage,” says Elijah Zulu, a 2024 A&E Artist-in-Residence. “It felt incredibly fulfilling to create something, with contributions from the community, on my screen and be able to see that on digital billboards and signage throughout the city — that certainly is not something I would have been able to access outside the residency.”
Residencies are self-directed, allowing artists to shape their projects while benefiting from structured feedback loops with peers, experts, and community members. The emphasis is on innovation, with a preference for projects that challenge traditional art forms and explore new presentation methods. Residents also showcase their work through exhibitions, workshops, or artist talks, ensuring public engagement and community connection.
“Having access to the Futures Lab space and opportunities for engaging the public were the biggest benefits of participating in the residency program,” says Jordan Young, a 2024 A&E Atlanta Artist-in-Residence. “Along with growing in my independent artistic practice, the residency provided me with the freedom to evolve as an educator and curator supporting artists working with technology. I am walking away with three strong case studies for projects across these capacities that I can replicate and adapt going forward. On the most basic level, the Futures Lab has a lot of real estate to offer in terms of screens. There are technically 14+ displays in their space which was a dream to design across. They were also able to contribute additional computer power which greatly increased my capacity for exhibiting interactive work. If there was anything I needed, they had it. Having that underlying support meant I could dream big with my shows and activities.”
The lab’s success is due to its partnerships. MARTA Artbound and Atlanta Downtown provide financial backing and help connect residents with public and private partners. These relationships open doors to university programs, commercial design firms, and nonprofit organizations, offering residents invaluable opportunities to expand their networks and refine their work.
In addition to the residency program, the Lab hosts workshops led by artists and technologists, further cementing its role as a resource for the broader arts community. These sessions make advanced tools and techniques accessible to creators at all skill levels, breaking down barriers to access to art and technology.
Shaping the Future of Art
The Lab’s public art manager, Tisha Smith, emphasizes that the AiR program is about more than just creating art. “The goal is to create a viable place where art intersects with technology,” she explains. “By prioritizing projects that engage new audiences and explore uncharted spaces for public art, the program aligns with the Lab’s mission to redefine what art can be and how it can be experienced.”
“For Atlanta, this program is a real opportunity to legitimize and bring attention to artists working with emerging technologies,” says Young. “It comes with the essential benefit of expanding the public's understanding of what art is and how it can function. I hope it inspires an ecosystem of support for technology-driven artmaking and helps artist communities across disciplines consider what's possible by augmenting their work through technology. I think for any artist, the program is a rare opportunity to recontextualize their own practice and take big swings.”
A Growing Creative Community
Since its inception, the Public Art Futures Lab has cultivated a vibrant community of creators and innovators. By providing the tools, space, and support necessary for artistic experimentation, the Lab is transforming Underground Atlanta into a beacon for interdisciplinary collaboration. Its Artist-in-Residence program is an opportunity for individual growth and a step toward a future where art and technology coexist seamlessly.
“I think a lot of art in the city tends to be more on the traditional side, especially regarding the media and techniques used,” says Zulu. “If I say the words ‘public art,’ for most people only a narrow list comes to mind — much narrower than what they consider to be ‘art’ in general. As someone who believes that all art could be public art and that an artist's first duty is service to the community, I think residencies such as these are incredibly valuable in exposing artists to new tools and avenues of expression. This goes beyond artists directly involved in the residency but also includes other artists visiting the space for things like showings, receptions, workshops, etc. I found that the lab is a hotbed for collaboration.”
Zulu continues, “The community is presented with the opportunity to be involved with and engage with art outside the guise of what is traditionally considered public art. That is what the community deserves — to feel like, amongst them and around them, they can experience the full breadth and depth of what all art, old and new, has to offer. To feel like they don't need to go to San Francisco, New York, Tokyo, or Berlin to experience or be part of new media.”
“Atlanta deserves to be part of the international movement toward realizing the civic capacity of technology-driven art,” adds Young. “We are migrating away from an ‘art for art’s sake’ mentality and toward the recognition of art as an engine for social transformation. What better place than Atlanta to embrace that potential? We have the stories, talent, and brainpower to imagine more equitable futures through artmaking, with technology as the bridge that permits artists to reach audiences where they are, in languages they understand.”
For artists ready to explore this intersection, the Futures Lab offers resources and a vision that sees art as a dynamic, evolving force capable of reshaping our interactions with technology and the world around us. Learn more about the Public Art Futures Lab, the Artist-in-Residence program, at publicartfutureslab.com. Applications for the 2025 residency are open now until February 7, 2025.