Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Friedman.
Hi Adam, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Atlanta Green Artist Alliance (AGAA) was founded in 2020 initially as the Atlanta Green Theatre Alliance (AGTA) by a group of theatre professionals who recognized how urgent the issue of environmentalism was in the arts communities – and the unique pressures faced by artists seeking to center sustainability and the environment. Due to the immediate onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, our initial programming was focused on assessing the state of sustainability in Atlanta-area theatres, as well as barriers that artists face in trying to become more sustainable.
This culminated in our opening of the AGAA Shed at South River Art Studios in 2021, which ever since has served as our physical footprint and a nexus point for artists looking to use or share reused materials. As we continued adapting to the shifting arts & environmental landscape, we realized that the Atlanta arts scene is fairly unique – very few people are solely theatre practitioners, instead working in a wide variety of disciplines. To reflect this, we refashioned ourselves as AGAA – not only working with theatre artists, but all artists in the Atlanta area. Today, we’re growing and spreading our branches to connect green artists with the services we offer – and to each other!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Is it ever??
As I briefly touched on before, we founded AGAA in January 2020, shortly before a certain world-altering pandemic occurred. This had a huge impact on the work we thought we were going to do. However, while COVID-19 had a huge impact on arts communities (that many of us are still recovering from), it did provide an unexpected opportunity for artists to reassess the work we create, and how we create. This ended up giving us a chance to take a long look at what theatre and arts organizations were doing – and how to work more sustainably. So while it was a winding road, I think it was a surprise in the way it let us set up for future success.
In the current environment, I don’t think it’d be a surprise to anyone that the arts and environmental fields are struggling. As federal and state governments continually reduce non-profit funding (did you know Georgia is lowest in the country for arts funding?) and even our local governments de-emphasize environmental initiatives, it has become increasingly crucial for our communities to look after each other. So we’ve been figuring out how to do more with less, and where we can find what funding sources remain.
We’ve been impressed with Atlanta Green Artist Alliance, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
AGAA’s goal is to rally Atlanta-area artists around sustainability and the environment. This can take many forms, both in supporting sustainability in the arts or using the arts as a platform to advocate for environmental issues. In all likelihood, someone who’s heard about AGAA did so through our materials salvage location at South River Art Studios – the AGAA Shed. The Shed is a nexus point for Atlanta-area artists and community members to connect with each other, and donate or collect materials for their own use. It is entirely free, supported by donations and seven-person volunteer team. We’ve had a staggering variety of materials come through the AGAA Shed, ranging from unopened paint, sheets of plywood, to pre-owned tools, to antique pieces of furniture or props! The Shed is open every Saturday 11am-2pm, and it is open to both artists and Atlanta-area community members!
Our sustainability initiatives beyond the AGAA Shed have included the School Delivery Program, where we directly convey materials (often set pieces or costumes that can’t be stored at the AGAA Shed) with Atlanta-area schools that may not have the means to fabricate these pieces on their own; the AGAA Drive, during which we collect donations from arts organizations to support Atlanta’s homeless communities; and the construction of a Chimney Swift Tower at South River Art Studios (https://www.southriverartstudios.com/chimneyswifttower). Through our waste diversion activities, AGAA saved nearly $30,000 worth of materials in 2024 alone!
In addition to the Shed, we have run workshops independently and through the Atlanta Science Festival, primarily focused on how to reuse materials or tools for simple, at-home projects. AGAA has also supported the Atlanta iterations of the biannual Climate Change Theatre Action play festival. CCTA aims to galvanize local communities to take direct action to address Climate Change.
What we’d love Atlanta artists and community members to be aware of us our availability to consult early on in a project! The earlier that sustainability is considered in the life cycle of a project, the more impactful and less intrusive it is. AGAA is available to talk you through possible sustainable strategies or material alternatives, and to plan for the eventual resting place for your materials. If you wish to have an AGAA expert in the room – we’re here!
What’s next?
Currently, AGAA is looking to expand its educational and community initiatives. One of the strengths of AGAA’s administrative model is how adaptable we can be – so if there’s a sustainable arts workshop you’d like to see, let us know! Our ultimate goal for AGAA is to function as an figurative “light-rail system” – connecting artists, environmentalists, and community organizations to each other. Our increasing emphasis on education and consultations reflects that, and we look forward to meeting Atlanta artists where they are, while looking to the future. To meet those goals, we are currently fundraising to cover the operational costs for the AGAA Shed and to kickstart our educational programs.
Pricing:
- A donation of $25 supports routine maintenance of the AGAA Shed
- $100 covers the truck rental for one School Delivery
- $500 covers one month’s rent for the AGAA Shed
Contact Info:
- Website: https://atlantagreenartistalliance.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlantagreenartistalliance
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atlantagreenartistalliance
- Other: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-atlanta-green-artist-alliance
Image Credits
Malina Rodriguez, Adam Friedman
