Grand Opening Weekend at The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur a Huge Success

The City of Decatur turned out to officially welcome The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur on April 11 and 12 as the campus celebrated its grand opening weekend. On Friday evening, Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd, DeKalb County Chief of Staff Ann Kimbrough, and Decatur Business Association President Neil Dobbs were the featured speakers as Art Institute of Atlanta President Janet S. Day and Decatur Campus Director Brian Mazur hosted an invitation-only reception. Mayor Floyd and Ms. Kimbrough presented President Day with proclamations recognizing the new college and extended very warm words of welcome. Frank Covaleskie, southeast group vice president for The Art Institutes, extended congratulations on behalf of John Mazzoni, president of The Art Institutes.


Also in attendance were Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss, Assistant City Manager Lyn Menne, Linda Harris, assistant director of community and economic development for Decatur, DeKalb County Commissioner Kathy Gannon, and Decatur Mayor Emeritus Elizabeth Wilson.


Guests enjoyed a beautiful array of hors d’oeuvres from Voila, one of Decatur’s many restaurants, and desserts from The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta. Music by harpist Julie Albertson added a very elegant touch, and everyone left with a commemorative glass box as a souvenir of the evening.


On Saturday, April 12, from 11 am to 3 pm, The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur welcomed the community to an interactive open house. Visitors toured the new campus, met staff and faculty, viewed “Life Without Leaves,” an exhibit of large scale photography by Art Institute of Atlanta students, and participated in hands-on sessions in each of the six programs offered at the college.


Six interactive experience stations in advertising, fashion & retail management, graphic design, interior design, media arts & animation, and Web design & interactive media were set up in the college’s labs and studios. There were six 20-minute session in each subject, and visitors had a chance to try their hand at basic animation, Web design, graphic design, and more. And they went away with a special gift from each “class.”


The day also included refreshments from Quizno’s, popcorn, music by DJ Willie Wow, and caricatures drawn by Art Institute of Atlanta illustration student Wes Holland.


The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur is a satellite campus of The Art Institute of Atlanta, which is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; telephone number 404.679.4501). The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur is approved by the State of Georgia to award the associate in arts degree, the bachelor of arts degree, and the bachelor of fine arts degree; approved for the training of veterans and eligible veterans’ dependents; and authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students.


The Art Institute of Atlanta is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 40 educational institutions throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion, and culinary arts professionals. The Art Institute of Atlanta has one satellite location, The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, and three branch campuses: The Art Institute of Charleston (SC), The Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville, and The Art Institute of Washington (Arlington, VA).