Designing a Thriving Future for the Arts in Atlanta
At MODA, we believe that design is more than aesthetics—it’s a powerful tool for solving problems, building stronger communities, and imagining new futures. And like any design challenge, the issue of arts funding in Atlanta is one we believe can—and must—be rethought.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of Arts Capital | Atlanta (AC|A)—a collaborative initiative focused on building stronger financial infrastructure for small and mid-sized arts organizations across our city. At MODA, we know firsthand what’s possible when creativity is supported. And we know what’s at stake when it isn’t.
What We Do—and What We Could Do More Of
As Atlanta’s only museum dedicated to design, MODA connects people of all ages with the tools of design thinking—empathy, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Through exhibitions, youth camps, school field trips, professional development for educators, and hands-on programs for families and adults, we empower individuals to design solutions for 21st-century challenges—from sustainability to equity.
But here’s the truth: we do this work with limited capacity. Like many of our peers, we operate with a small staff, constrained space, and the pressure of piecing together support year to year. What would it look like if we weren’t constantly playing catch-up? What if we were fully capitalized—able to take risks, grow intentionally, and say yes more often?
It would mean:
Reaching more students in Title I schools with free field trips that introduce design as a way to shape the world around them.
Expanding our youth education programs to serve hundreds more children and teens each year with camps and classes rooted in creative confidence and design justice.
Offering paid internships for emerging creatives—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—who want to explore museum work, design, or arts education.
Partnering more deeply with grassroots organizations, schools, libraries, and neighborhoods across Atlanta to bring design-based programming where it’s needed most.
Taking creative risks—curating exhibitions that push boundaries, spark dialogue, and represent voices and histories that are too often excluded.
Right now, we say no to more opportunities than we’d like—not because we lack vision, but because we lack the resources to scale it.
Why AC|A Matters
Arts Capital | Atlanta is working to change that—for MODA, and for dozens of peer organizations across the city. Together, we’re designing a new model for how the arts can be sustained in Atlanta—not through scarcity thinking, but through shared infrastructure, aligned investment, and a belief in the collective power of small and mid-sized arts organizations.
MODA brings a designer’s mindset to this challenge. We believe systems can be reimagined, tested, and improved. We believe that equity and innovation are not opposites. And we believe that if you want to change the world, you start by designing it differently.
That’s what we’re doing. And we’re not doing it alone.
Photos Courtesy of MODA.
