High Museum of Art director Rand Suffolk has a well-earned reputation for his commitment to collaborative community engagement and more equitable access—so much so that a search for ‘art museums reaching more diverse audiences’ results in more than a few links to stories about what he’s done for not just the High but also the Philbrook before that. Namely, implemented engagement strategies that increased membership, attendance and program participation. In the case of the High, that growth notably reflected the demographics of the surrounding region (Artnet News called it a “valuable case study” in audience diversification).

Thank you for signing up!

By clicking submit, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime.

Strategies explored at the High since Suffolk’s arrival in 2015 have included increasing the acquisition and exhibition of artworks by women, LGBTQ and BIPOC artists; reducing admission fees; a 2018 expansion and redesign that added dedicated space for families; and implementing hyper-local marketing campaigns. “We’ve tried very hard to dovetail our strengths with the community’s needs and interests,” he told Observer in February.

Of course, what’s happening at the High isn’t happening in a vacuum. Despite some headlines bemoaning the fact that Atlanta’s art scene just isn’t flourishing fast enough, the city’s status as a cultural destination is no longer really in question. Atlanta’s art galleries are mounting politically and socially relevant museum-quality shows. Underground Atlanta is now home to a thriving ecosystem of DIY art spaces,........

© Observer