C4 Atlanta incorporated as a nonprofit in July, 2010. Before forming what was to become C4 Atlanta, the team spent hundreds of hours conducting an environmental scan of local and national arts services. Through this market analysis, the C4 Atlanta team determined that there existed a need within the community for business development services specifically designed with the artist in mind.

The C4 Atlanta Action Team began this endeavor under some of the worst possible economic conditions we faced in our lifetimes. Businesses in nearly every sector were hemorrhaging jobs, and the Atlanta region was among the unfortunate leaders in this race to the bottom.

In 2011, we streamlined our programs to focus primarily on arts professionals. We developed a series of “core” professional development offerings by 2012, and we began operating a shared work space for artists and small, creative businesses.

Between 2013 and 2015, we experienced exponential growth in terms of both services and capacity. Our capacity continues to grow each year with the addition of staff members and paid, working artists to facilitate classes. In 2015, the C4 Atlanta Board of Directors added advocacy for arts workers as a resource we provide the field. Over the next several years, we will continue to reach out to artists and creative professionals for feedback, integrate that feedback, and strive to maintain the highest of professional offerings.

Our mission reflects the core areas of challenges C4 Atlanta will address within the arts and culture community. The mission also leverages our core competencies as a team, board and business partners within Atlanta, and nationally.

Our mission will continue to evolve over time — and we hope the evolution will be expansive. Today, our service area is the metro Atlanta region. In addition to strengthening our existing core competencies, we hope to develop new competencies so that we continue to serve the needs of Atlanta’s arts community.