Decatur, GA — The city of Decatur will work with the Decatur Arts Alliance to manage a public art program and install three public art pieces around the Publix that recently opened near the Avondale MARTA station.

The City Commission approved a memorandum of understanding with the Arts Alliance at its Feb. 7 meeting. The Publix is located along East Ponce de Leon and will be surrounded by the apartments Toll Bros. is constructing.

In 2019, the city entered into an acquisition agreement with Alliance Realty when the city conveyed public streets to the developer in order to construct the shopping center. At that time, Alliance Realty committed $250,000 toward a public art program at the site, City Manager Andrea Arnold said.

“When the certificate of occupancy was provided for the Publix shopping center under the terms of the acquisition agreement, the owners did provide a check to the city in the amount of $250,000, along with a license agreement giving the city permission, essentially, to go onto the property and perform the public art program,” Arnold said.

The city will be working with the Decatur Arts Alliance to honor its commitment under the license agreement.

“The [Decatur] Arts Alliance will be responsible for selecting the artists, overseeing the installation of the art, [and] annual maintenance of the art. Part of the MOU for those services is a recommendation of a commitment of $50,000 for those services, leaving $200,000 for three art installations,” Arnold said. “I’m excited about this opportunity to make a real investment in public art on that side of the city. [It’s] very much a gateway on the eastern side of the city, and to partner with an organization who has the experience and expertise to manage that kind of program.”