Office of Cultural Affairs Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Free Event At Oakland Cemetery On May 4
April 28,2014
“To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Office of Cultural Affairs and the rich legacy of former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, we have planned something special and the public is invited,” states Camille Russell Love, Director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “Mayor Jackson founded the Office of Cultural Affairs and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. To honor him, and to toast our 40 years of community service, we are throwing a party in Oakland Cemetery, complete with a multi-media exhibition and jazz performances. The festivities will be hosted by Mayor Kasim Reed. This event is free and open to the public. Bring your family and friends and join us on Sunday, May 4 from 4-6:30 pm.”
Here are some of the activities planned for May 4 on the North Public Grounds at Oakland:
Musical Performances
To kick off the afternoon, the Good Times Brass Band will play traditional 2nd line selections which are fitting for a jazz celebration. If you have a parasol, bring it and join in!
During the event the Clark Atlanta Jazz Orchestra will perform under the direction of Dr. James Patterson. Dr. Patterson founded the CAU Jazz Orchestra, and they have performed at the Atlanta Jazz Festival many times over the years, including at the very first festival in 1978.
Multi-Media Exhibition
There will be an exhibit of images, archives, articles and artifacts that tell the story of Mayor Jackson’s inauguration, his founding of the Office of Cultural Affairs, and his impact on the arts in Atlanta. Historic photos from Atlanta photographers Jim Alexander and Sue Ross will be on display, as well as documents and images from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Atlanta Daily World.
The exhibit is presented in partnership with the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Robert W. Woodruff Library and is part of their Maynard Jackson Mayoral Administrative Records collection. Spanning from 1968 to 1994, the collection features correspondence, photographs, speeches, news clippings, proclamations, and campaign material from Jackson’s terms as vice mayor and mayor. Housed in the library’s Archives Research Center, the collection is open to the public for research. Contact archives@auctr.edu for more information. To learn about the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library, visit www.auctr.edu.
Transportation & Parking
The King Memorial MARTA Station is just two blocks from Oakland Cemetery. Also Grady Health Systems is graciously providing free parking to the public in their parking garage behind the King Memorial Station. Here’s a link to a map identifying the MARTA Station next to Oakland, which also shows the location of the parking garage: http://goo.gl/maps/DOBDG
Oakland Cemetery
Oakland Cemetery is an outstanding example of a Victorian garden cemetery. Atlanta milestones are represented at Oakland, from Civil War soldiers, to leaders of industry, to Civil Rights pioneers. Famous residents at Oakland include Atlanta Mayors Maynard Jackson and Ivan Allen, Jr.; Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With The Wind; golfing great Robert T. (Bobby) Jones; Samuel M. Inman, Fulton County Commissioner and original owner of the Swan House; and Bishop Wesley John Gaines, founder of Morris Brown College. Oakland Cemetery is located just one exit from downtown Atlanta at 248 Oakland Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30312.
Sponsorship
Sponsors for this year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival include Bank of America, Publix Charities, Coca-Cola, W Atlanta – Midtown, MARTA, XFINITY, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Georgia Lottery. If you are interested in being a sponsor and promoting your product or service at the festival, contact Alex Davis at ADDavis@AtlantaGa.Gov.
The 37th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival is presented by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The mission of the Atlanta Jazz Festival is to educate and entertain a diverse audience of jazz fans and to nurture the next generation of jazz musicians. The festival is partially supported by Atlanta Jazz Festival Inc, a 501©(3) cultural, non-profit. Like us on Facebook at AtlantaJazzFestival and visit the official web site at www.atlantafestivals.com for performance schedules, news and information.