Features
Peace In Piedmont Park
The Atlanta Arts Festival and Music Midtown very nearly come to loggerheads over space in the city’s Piedmont Park the same weekend in September.
However, the two groups were able to reach a quite civilized resolution.
The arts festival is a fairly staid affair, while Music Midtown rocks a bit harder, favoring artists such artists as Eminem, Jack White, Zac Brown, Iggy Azalea, and Duane Allman, all of whom appeared at last year’s Live Nation-produced festival.
Music Midtown has taken place at Piedmont Park since 2011. But this year, both festivals applied for permits the weekend of Sept. 19, according to Atlanta’s WXIA-TV.
The arts festival reportedly filed its permit application with the city in November, while Music Midtown filed its application in early February. Music Midtown drew 170,000 music fans last year and paid Atlanta a $400,000 fee, while the Atlanta Arts Festival paid $5,000 for its permit last year, according to WXIA.
“I don’t see how we could possibly do that,” city councilwoman Mary Norwood told the television station, adding the city will have to choose from the competing permit applications. Perhaps the city couldn’t, but Live Nation’s Peter Conlon and Julie Tepp of the Atlanta Arts Council quickly put their heads together and solved the dilemma.
“I am glad to say that both of these great events will be able to continue and enrich the culture of Altanta,” said Conlon, president of Live Nation Atlanta. In a joint statement, Conlon and Tepp announced that Music Midtown will take place Sept. 18-19, while Atlanta Arts Festival is scheduled Sept. 26-27.
“I am looking forward to a great festival season,” said Tepp of the compromise.