ARTS UPDATE: Rialto Center’s Darlene Hamilton
Fall Arts Preview Update from Rialto Center of the Art’s Assistant Director, Marketing and Communications, Darlene Hamilton
Photo credit: Courtesy Darlene Hamilton
Darlene Hamilton: The COVID crisis had a devastating impact on the arts community. With venues shuttered, artists were unable to perform, and venues were unable to bring in much-needed revenues. The Rialto Center for the Arts has been shut down nearly a year and a half. We had to lay off some staff members. But, through it all, we were determined to offer hope through free virtual programming with our remaining staff and a fraction of our budget. We developed the Rialto Homegrown Artists Series featuring short (15-minute) taped performances from artists’ homes or other locations, which were streamed on social media platforms for free. We also offered Rialto Replays drawn from some of our best performances from previous seasons. Our Feed Your Senses monthly lunch-time performances featured local talent, and LIVE AT THE RIALTO featured performances by Russell Gunn and the RKJO, Atlanta Ballet, Kevin Bales’ Beyond the Neighborhood , and Kathleen Bertrand’s Sisters in Song . While shut down, we also developed and produced six episodes of our TV series about racial equity, which aired on GPB-TV/The Knowledge Channel and our social media platforms. Episode 5 of “Crucial Conversations” (now rebranded “Conversations at the Rialto”) won three Telly Awards. While the COVID crisis presented many challenges, it ignited creativity in our organization.”
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Darlene Hamilton is the Assistant Director, Marketing & Communications for the Rialto Center for the Arts
Georgia State University
Once a commuter school with little character, Georgia State has become a more complete university with new dorms and a strong commitment to enhancing its Downtown Atlanta campus. Among the most notable activities of public interest are performances at the Rialto Center (see music venues), WRAS (88.5-FM) radio, Cinefest Theatre, and GSU Panther basketball.
Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University
Gorgeous concert hall affiliated with Georgia State University that hosts an eclectic mix of dance, film, theater and music events, as well as art exhibits.
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