Forward Warrior was founded by artists for artists. We consider artist health, safety, and well-being as our fundamental duty. Concerns about viral respiratory infection and local guidelines have encouraged us to change our behavior with respect to labor proximity and non-participant spaces. Permanent protocols for hygiene in and around work areas have been implemented to proactively create an environment that protects our creative teams.
Public events for 2020 are cancelled. Please don’t show up to watch. Enthusiasts are encouraged to avoid the area during installation. Rather, enjoy Forward Warrior on any digital device from the comfort of your favorite comfy surface! Tune into our live coverage for artist interviews, streaming video, and commentary.
There will also be professionally-edited content available after the 2020 murals are completed. If you would like to assist with photography or video production, please use our contact forms or send a direct message on social media. We are also looking for translators and transcribers for closed captioning.
For updates about videos, follow our internal staff account on Instagram, friend us on Facebook, or subscribe to our YouTube channel).
June 8th update
April 22nd update
UPDATED 4/22/2020: Our number one priority is the safety and health of participating artists. The goal is to paint a large mural. It may be necessary to alter the timing, density, or audience in order to achieve that outcome within a protected framework.
As we reconfigure, one area that will receive more attention is our web footprint. We will concentrate on increasing our online capacity, enhancing digital outreach, and expanding opportunities for audiences to enjoy the mural remotely.
Painting itself is still tentatively scheduled for September 12th, 2020, assuming outdoor installation work is legal, viable, and advisable. Due to the current public health crisis, it is very likely we will explore myriad options to manage or restrict public access during the installation, and discourage crowds from congregating.
Our expenses will be planned to minimize risk according to strategic benchmarks, and we will carefully follow public directives on outdoor activity in order to stay informed of the latest expert guidance. We lead best by example, and we will operate with an abundance of caution. If we are uncomfortable with the situation, operations will be postponed.
The installation location is the Wylie Street Wall, between Carroll Street and Pearl Street, in Cabbagetown, Atlanta 30316, a half-mile stretch of road that includes a small portion of the Eastside Trail. It will be necessary to work with Atlanta Beltline to discuss ways to provide a proper working environment for the artists. If we are unable to achieve our distancing guidelines, we will avoid painting that section of the wall.
We will invite approximately 40 artists to paint, and provide the materials. To reduce the risk of spreading respiratory infection, distancing recommendations will be implemented and artists will not be given adjacent activation spots. Every effort will be made to accommodate personal requests for specific site features.
There is no fee to participate. A typical artist finishes their mural in 3-4 days (usually starting an outline on Friday evening, and finishing details on Sunday afternoon). It may be necessary to conduct operations over consecutive weekends, or otherwise manage temporal spacing.
Cabbagetown Initiative has permission from the property owner, CSX Transportation, to maintain and beautify the space, obtains street closure & gathering permits from the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, and purchases a liability insurance rider.
There is traditionally a block party on Saturday for the public from 11am to 8pm. Our best information and common sense indicate we should plan to cancel all entertainment, merchandise, and refreshments (except required water stations). Our jurisdiction is limited, but it is extremely likely we will discourage the adjacent vintage / makers market, and prohibit it from operating within our site plan.
As the permitting process is a lengthy process (>90 days), and MOSE is facilitating application amendments, we intend to file for an event permit in order to maximize our flexibility.
It is important to note that event permits are nearly identical to large gathering permits (with a few notable exceptions, such as vendors and entertainment), and as such offer the opportunity to plan large-scale safety, sanitation, and security protocols. For example, we probably aren’t throwing a party, but maybe it will be safe to sell t-shirts. Regardless, we will need a permit for portable toilets, as well as handwashing stations and use of our public park infrastructure. An event permit will give us the freedom to provide sensible facilities and perhaps offer reasonable amenities, while our conscience and commitment to community will dictate best practices and inform our ethical obligations.
For the past two years, we have offered free space for non-profit organizations to set up information tents. If it makes sense this year, we may use our site plan to allow certain crisis relief or aid organizations. It might be in the best interest of our participants if we host outreach or enrollment opportunities, but this is difficult to predict.
Our staff is largely volunteer. We pay off-duty APD officers for security. The curator is typically offered an honorarium if the event stays within budget.
Most artists are not paid, but we are pursuing additional grant opportunities in order to compensate artists. We are updating our website, and strive to promote artists online, as well as assist with third party commissions.
There are a few local businesses and individuals that support the project with donations and sponsorship. We have commitments for private funding from other sources, though economic circumstances are volatile.
Overall, we remain confident in our ability to execute this project.
Updated 6/8/2020: As the situation continues to develop, we will update our plans and protocols. We believe there is insufficient guidance for adequate public health safety, and plan to exceed government recommendations.
We are listening to the community about its relationship with law enforcement, and will balance our legal lane closure permit requirements with written policy, clear chain of command, enhanced communications & de-escalation protocols, as well as input from the participants on best practices and sensitivities. Public perception will be taken into consideration when creating security plans. Atlanta Police Department officers (or equivalent, as required by law) will maintain traffic safety. Private security will be on site to maintain a safe working environment, prevent spectators from forming larger crowds, and protect the artists.
No event permit will be sought. We will apply for a sidewalk and/or lane closure to protect artists. We will place portable restrooms and handwash stations on private property and/or coordinate with City of Atlanta Department of Public Works to determine an acceptable solution to hygiene for outside workers.
