Although Roswell Arts Fund is only a few years old, we are well on the way to making Roswell a Destination for the Arts. We have transformed the conversation on the arts in Roswell – igniting new ways of thinking about the arts, inspiring new ways of doing art, and impacting the city of Roswell economically and socially.

Here’s a brief history:

2014

• Roswell Arts Fund incorporated

2015

• “Imagine Roswell Arts & Culture 2030” study completed, creating a roadmap for the arts in Roswell and calling for a new independent non-profit arts organization to lead the implementation
• Roswell Arts Fund designated as the City of Roswell’s arts agency – to strengthen the scope, quality, and diversity of the arts and striving to fully integrate the arts into the social and economic fabric that is uniquely Roswell
• Managed the first commissioned work of art for Fire Station #4, The Bucket Brigade

2016

• Inaugural ArtAround Roswell Sculpture tour
• Creation of All Arts Calendar and Directory of Roswell Artists
• Facilitated the purchase of Two ArtAround Sculptures (asset value to City of Roswell $30,000)

2017

• Facilitated the purchase of Four ArtAround 2017 Sculptures (asset value to City of Roswell $57,000)
• Managed and Completed the Public Art Master Plan on behalf of the City of Roswell
• Worked with GOT and RDOT installed a unique gift of temporary public art ,Sky Maintenance, from Moscow artist, Dima Alekseev

2018 

• Conducted inaugural Artist Around the Table Work Session to bring together local artists and city department leaders to explore how art can be integrated into capital projects
• Managed and completed the third phase of the City’s Performance Space Feasibility Study  (first and second phase in 2016 & 2017)
• Brought the first Artist Design Street Piano, Zoey, installed at East Roswell Park

2019

• Commissioned first Artist Designed Bicycle Racks, installed late 2019
• Facilitated the purchase of Four ArtAround 2018 Sculptures (asset value to City of Roswell $72,000) bringing the total of transferred assets (sculptures) to the city valued at $139,000 as permanent gifts
• To date raised over $275,000 from individual donors, corporate sponsors and in-kind services

2020

• Launched Pop-Up Performance Series, bringing world-class concerts to Roswell, engaging audiences and strengthening community support for the development of a new state of the art performing arts center to serve the greater north metropolitan Atlanta.
• Responding to the times, launched Pop-In Performance Series delivering mobile concerts to senior living facilities around Roswell, and those in the community most affected by the pandemic and with a greater need to stay indoors.
• Created Roswell In Print, the first outdoor photography exhibition in the city designed to highlight the diverse characteristics of Roswell through visual storytelling displayed in a non-traditional spaces.

2021

• RAF held the first Beaucoup Jazz and Blues Festival and Pop Up Marketplace in East Roswell which showcased 8 bands, featured 35 local artisans and welcomed over 700 visitors.
• In collaboration with Ryan Pernice, owner of Table and Main, the Painted Utility Box program was launched with a mural by Christina Kwan. 
• In anticipation of the  2021 elections, RAF conducted it’s first Arts and Culture Candidate Survey of all candidates regarding their stance on advancing the arts in Roswell.