Public Art Futures Lab
Public Art Futures Lab is a first-of-its-kind government-supported incubator from Fulton County Arts & Culture merging art, science, and technology. Through artist studio residencies, immersive projects, and public workshops, the Public Art Futures Lab democratizes access to creative tech and explores how digital media, perception, and empathy shape the future of public art.
The Public Art Futures Lab was founded in 2022 by Fulton County Arts & Culture in direct response to community feedback from artists, educators, and residents across the Atlanta region who identified a critical need for greater access to art and technology resources. Surveys revealed that while interest in creative technology was growing, many artists and community members found these tools cost-prohibitive and noted a lack of dedicated spaces in Metro Atlanta where tech-integrated public art could be created, exhibited, or experienced.
In response, Fulton County launched the Public Art Futures Lab as a first-of-its-kind government-supported incubator for art and technology. The Lab was envisioned as both a creative research space and a public platform, a place where artists, technologists, and the public could collaborate to imagine new forms of expression at the intersection of art, science, and civic life.
Today, the Public Art Futures Lab supports artist residencies, immersive installations, and community workshops that merge emerging technologies with sensory and social exploration. Artists experiment with tools such as virtual and augmented reality, generative AI, motion capture, projection mapping, and sound design to produce work that redefines what public art can be—dynamic, participatory, and inclusive.
Beyond its downtown Atlanta base, the Public Art Futures Lab partners with institutions such as Georgia Tech, Spelman College Innovation Lab, and the Fulton County Library System to extend programming into libraries, senior centers, and community spaces, ensuring that emerging technology remains accessible to all Fulton County residents.
The Public Art Futures Lab stands as a model for how municipalities can invest in creativity as a civic resource, bridging art, science, and technology to foster empathy, innovation, and shared discovery. Its mission is simple yet transformative: to democratize access to creative technology and empower communities to co-create the future of public art.
Programs & Activities
The Public Art Futures Lab offers annual artist residencies, public programs, and community partnerships designed to make creative technology accessible, equitable, and inspiring.
Artist Residencies:
The Public Art Futures Lab’s signature residency program supports artists exploring the intersection of art, science, and technology. Residents receive access to creative tools such as VR and AR headsets, projection systems, and digital fabrication equipment, along with technical mentorship and production support. The program is sustained through public and private partnerships that enable project-based outcomes, helping artists develop new works that can evolve into future commissions, exhibitions, and collaborations. Each residency culminates in a public activation, exhibition, or demonstration that connects the artist’s process directly with the community.
Public Workshops and Learning Series
Through free and low-cost subsidized workshops, PAFL introduces emerging tools to artists, students, and community members of all experience levels. Programs include hands-on sessions in virtual reality artmaking, creative coding, AI-generated media, and sound and projection design, bridging technical learning with creative expression.
Community Engagement and Partnerships
PAFL partners with the Fulton County Library System, senior centers, and neighborhood organizations to bring immersive technology directly into public settings. These programs allow residents across the county to experience creative tech firsthand and participate in interactive storytelling, VR screenings, and collaborative artmaking.
Exhibitions and Events
The Public Art Futures Lab hosts installations, performances, and public art demonstrations that showcase how artists are using technology to rethink perception, empathy, and place. Recent programs have included VR film screenings, interactive projection environments, and sound-based performances in collaboration with regional and international artists.
Collaborative Research and Innovation
Through partnerships with institutions such as Georgia Tech and Spelman College, we serve as a bridge between academic research and public engagement, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogue, student involvement, and experimentation across art, design, and technology.
Together, these programs position the Public Art Futures Lab as a living ecosystem for creative exploration, where innovation and public access converge to shape the future of art in Fulton County and beyond.
