Check Out the Newly Renovated 15th Street Arts District Plaza
Published: 05/05/22
By ELLIE HENSLEY
A prominent Peachtree intersection in Midtown has been transformed into a bona fide gathering spot, just in time for summer.
Midtown Alliance recently completed a maintenance project on the southeast and southwest corners of Arts District Plaza, and we’re unveiling these new upgrades with a new free "Jazz on the Plaza" series happening every Tuesday in May.
Read about the new amenities you’ll find in the plaza and our plans for programming the space.
Creating More Places to Meet in Midtown
Arts District Plaza was originally created in 2008 at the intersection of Peachtree and 15th Streets, where it serves as a gateway to the arts corridor that includes the Woodruff Arts Center and the Museum of Design Atlanta. Over the past year, two of its corners have been reimagined as spaces that invite the public to enjoy a meal, find a tranquil temporary workspace or meet up with friends.
Updates to the plaza kicked off early last year on the southwest corner, in front of Cousins Properties’ 1200 Peachtree building. These included new lighting, plants, seating and multi-purpose platforms to accommodate small performances. The centerpiece of that corner is Dorothy Berge’s “Sabine Woman,” a 1968 sculpture originally located outside of Colony Square.
Crews then moved across Peachtree Street to the southeast corner of Arts District Plaza, in front of Colony Square’s 500 Building. These improvements include communal tables to serve as outdoor workspaces, hardscape and landscape enhancements. Now that construction has been completed, the Trilon fountain on the corner has also been cleaned and restored.
“We hope these refreshed outdoor gathering areas at Arts District Plaza will encourage people to visit our vibrant district and stay a while,” said Ginny Kennedy, Midtown Alliance Director of Urban Design. “Look for some fun events to kick off the plaza’s reopening this month and later in 2022.”
Join us for a live jazz series every Tuesday in May. Akeem Marable (pictured) & 3AM kicked off the series on May 3.
Kick Up Your Heels at Jazz on the Plaza
First on the schedule: “Jazz on the Plaza,” a free jazz series presented by Midtown Alliance every Tuesday in May from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. “Jazz on the Plaza" is part of the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s 31 Days of Jazz, leading up to the Atlanta Jazz Festival at Piedmont Park on Memorial Day weekend.
"Midtown is known as the Heart of the Arts and we are so pleased that jazz is part of their commitment," said Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
This series is in conjunction with Colony Square’s Jazz in the Sky series, which is a ticketed event occurring select Tuesdays in May. Colony Square has a variety of to-go food and drink options if you’d like to enjoy dinner on the plaza.
In addition to music from a variety of local jazz musicians, Midtown Alliance is also programming the plaza with diversions such as cotton candy and popsicles and other vendors.
Here’s the schedule for Jazz on the Plaza:
- 5/10/22: Hani'el ML Trio
- Pops for sale from King of Pops
- 5/17/22: Hani'el ML Trio
- Free cotton candy from Viva la Flossy
- 5/24/22: Trio Jockamo featuring Will Scruggs
- 5/31/22: Matt Wauchope Trio
The event is subject to cancellation for rain. Please stay tuned for further announcements on our website and social media pages. Bring some friends, your family, or a date, and come enjoy the plaza renovations and some live music. We hope to see you soon!