Atlanta is gearing up for a cultural expedition that links the city's artistic expressions to the well-being of its community with the ELEVATE 2025: Rooted & Rising festival set to take place October 10–12. With venues spread across the vibrant districts of the West End, Sweet Auburn, Castleberry Hill, and South Downtown, the festival positions the robust tapestry of Black Atlanta as intrinsic to collective healing and societal health.
The event is a throwback to the formative period from the late '80s through the early '00s that witnessed the rise of Atlanta's global influence. An era that was a mosaic of skate culture, styling salons, and the beats that became a backbone for the city's ambiance. "Rooted & Rising is both a love letter and a call to action," Adriane V. Jefferson, the Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, told the City of Atlanta website.
The festival comprises a series of events curated by Atlanta’s creatives, aiming to reflect the city's vibrant spirit and foster intergenerational exchange. Steele Fresh, curated by Courtney Brooks, merges different artistic forms to celebrate resilience and creativity on Friday. Melissa Alexander takes Saturday's helm with The Culture Comb Out, revitalizing Underground Atlanta with a range of wellness activities. The closing day, Welcome to the West Side, curated by SLW & Steady Productions, spotlights Westview’s cultural significance, culminating in a documentary screening and open dialogue at the Pearl Cleage & Zaron Burnett Center for Culture and Creativity.
ELEVATE was originally designed to shift the concept of arts festivals, integrating the whole city in the celebration instead of compartmentalizing creativity. Since its inception in 2011, the festival has fostered significant discourse amongst urban planners and community leaders about cultural districts' role and has been hailed for its positive impact on the city's urban fabric. "At its core, ELEVATE is about building bridges—fostering collaboration, inspiring partnerships, and strengthening neighborhoods," as quoted from a statement obtained by the City of Atlanta website, highlighting the festival's objective.
