City of Savannah Department of Cultural Resources

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City of Savannah Department of Cultural Resources The City of Savannah’s hub for diverse art, cultural, and heritage-based activities. Express Yourself at The Otis S. The closest to the Otis S.

Join us for classes, performances, art exhibitions, and apply for arts and culture funding! With the mission to enrich the lives of Savannah residents and visitors, the City of Savannah Cultural Resources Department creates, promotes, and supports a diverse and exciting variety of quality art, cultural, and heritage-based activities. Johnson Cultural Arts Center

Opened in 2019, the new Otis S. Johnson Cultural Arts Center (formerly Savannah Cultural Arts Center) boasts creative studios, a state-of-the-art performance venue, and gallery space. Home to the City of Savannah Department of Cultural Resources, the CAC is located in the historic district, next to the Savannah Civic Center. Savannahians and visitors are invited to stop in to visit our free gallery, join us for an event in our theatre or First Fridays out on the lawn, and attend workshops to learn a new skill – from jewelry-making to African dance!
*Note: this building is currently closed to the public. Online art instruction and virtual classes are being offered. Visit savannahga.gov/arts for more information. How to Find Us

Bus: The CAC is located just a couple blocks from the downtown Chatham Area Transit bus station, meaning you can reach us via any bus route! If you are downtown you can also take the Historic Loop on the dot, a free shuttle in downtown Savannah. Car: Street parking is available around the historic district and city garages offer covered parking. Johnson Cultural Arts Center are the Liberty Street and Robinson garages. Walking: We are located on the west side of the historic district. Head towards Martin Luther King Jr Blvd along Oglethorpe Ave, or your favorite tree and square-lined street. Cultural Affairs Commission

An 18-member Cultural Affairs Commission, appointed by the Mayor and Aldermen, meets every other month to review contracted programming. In addition, the commission meets once a year to recommend purchases of cultural services from eligible arts organizations through the Arts & Culture Enrichment (ACE) and Weave-A-Dream investment programs.

10/15/2026

Step into the shadows for Kick & Scream: Visions in the Dark! Join us on Friday, October 30 for a haunting evening of art and thrilling live performances in ballet, hip hop, modern dance, heels dance, and more.

🎃Art Exhibition Closing Reception: 5:00-7:00pm
🎃Performance: Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7:00pm

This event is free and open to the public with tickets required to attend the performance. Please visit bit.ly/kands2026 to learn more and reserve your free tickets today. Ages 17+ recommended for the performance. CART Captioning and ASL Interpretation will be provided.

This Friday, 10/16! Join us for the opening reception of Digital Ancestry: Entre Raíces, Memoria y Algoritmo at the Otis...
10/13/2026

This Friday, 10/16! Join us for the opening reception of Digital Ancestry: Entre Raíces, Memoria y Algoritmo at the Otis S. Johnson Cultural Arts Center from 6:00-8:00pm.

Featuring artwork by SOY X SOY, an art collective of Latin American and Native American artists, this exhibition explores how identity, memory, culture, and belonging are formed at the intersection of inherited traditions and digital worlds. The title unites three interconnected ideas: Entre Raíces (roots), Memoria (memory), and Algoritmo (algorithm).

This event is free and open to the public. Pupseria Jireh food truck will be on site, serving up delicious bites while you experience the exhibition. Digital Ancestry will be on display in our gallery until Saturday, November 28th. We hope to see you there!

Applications to be a vendor or performer at the 5th Annual Savannah Black Art Expo are NOW OPEN! 📢 Are you a talented lo...
10/12/2026

Applications to be a vendor or performer at the 5th Annual Savannah Black Art Expo are NOW OPEN! 📢

Are you a talented local artist eager to showcase your unique creations and talents to a diverse and appreciative audience? Join us for a vibrant celebration of African and African-American culture, art, and creativity. The 5th Anniversary promises to be unforgettable, and we want YOU to be a part of it.

✨New this year! Selected performing acts will receive a stipend.

✨Participation is completely free for vendors, and you keep 100% of your sales.

Interested artists and performers can fill out the interest form linked in our bio or visit bit.ly/savbae. The deadline to apply is Monday, November 9, 2026. Selected applicants will be notified on or after Monday, November 30, 2026.

Let's come together to celebrate the richness of African and African American art and culture. This event is a space for creativity, unity, and inspiration. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to be a part of something truly special!

Night of Clay kicks off TONIGHT at 5:30pm! Schedule: 5:30pm | Ceramics Pop-Up Shop and Food Trucks Open5:45pm | Raku Dem...
10/08/2026

Night of Clay kicks off TONIGHT at 5:30pm!

Schedule:
5:30pm | Ceramics Pop-Up Shop and Food Trucks Open

5:45pm | Raku Demonstration: Kiln Loaded

7:00pm - 7:45pm | Artist Talk/Wheel Demo by John Jensen (CART captioning provided.)

8:00pm | Raku Demonstration: Kiln Unloaded

8:30pm | Event Ends

No tickets or pre-registration needed. This event is free and open to the public and takes place at the Otis S. Johnson, Ph.D. Cultural Arts Center located at 201 Montgomery St. in downtown Savannah.

We can't wait to see everyone there!

Pictured: First - pieces by guest artist John Jensen, Second - pieces by student artist Sandra Wild on display during the event, among other works in our lobby.

We had an amazing time this past Friday evening at Live from the Lawn! ✨Thank you to everyone who joined us for live mus...
09/29/2026

We had an amazing time this past Friday evening at Live from the Lawn! ✨

Thank you to everyone who joined us for live music, good food, and community on the lawn. A big shoutout to our talented performers Kimberly Gunn, Victor Solis, and Elli Perry; our food truck vendors Royal Tasty Avenue and Kona Ice; and our amazing audio/video production team (pictured last) who made the night one to remember.

We’re already looking forward to the next one!

Join us on Thursday, October 8 from 5:30-8:30pm for Night of Clay! 🏺Attendees can browse the ceramics pop-up shop featur...
09/22/2026

Join us on Thursday, October 8 from 5:30-8:30pm for Night of Clay! 🏺

Attendees can browse the ceramics pop-up shop featuring work from student artists, see exciting Raku firing and wheel throwing demonstrations, hear from guest speaker John Jensen, take a tour of our studios, and enjoy food from a local food truck.

This event will take place primarily on the lawn located at the back of the building on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and W Oglethorpe Ave. No tickets or pre-registration needed. This event is free and open to the public; all ages are welcome to attend*.

Food truck vendors King of Pops and C-Port Grubzzz will be onsite.

Second picture: A piece by guest artist John Jensen.

*While all ages are welcome, this event is not specifically geared toward children.

Meet this Friday's Live from the Lawn performers! ✨Elli Perry (pictured first) is a Georgia-born singer, songwriter, gui...
09/21/2026

Meet this Friday's Live from the Lawn performers! ✨

Elli Perry (pictured first) is a Georgia-born singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, and multidisciplinary artist whose two-decade career has taken her across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. After a bicycle accident resulted in a traumatic spinal injury, Elli spent years recovering and creating GHOST TALKER, a genre-defying album exploring loss, transformation, isolation, and hope, now brought to life through her powerful performances in Savannah.

Kimberly Gunn (pictured second) is an artist, entrepreneur, educator, and community advocate with more than 17 years of experience in education and over a decade in music and entertainment. Through Kimberly Gunn Enterprises, LLC, she has created innovative arts initiatives including The Love & Soul Experience and The Love & Soul Family Festival, while also providing mental health and financial wellness advocacy and training. A singer/songwriter and recipient of multiple awards for her community and artistic contributions, Kimberly is passionate about using creativity, leadership, and community engagement to inspire and uplift others.

Victor Solis (pictured third) is a high-energy solo musician bringing the grit and power of hard rock and southern rock to stages across Savannah and the Low Country. A two-time Connect Savannah Best of Award winner for Best All-Around Musician, Victor plays more than 250 gigs each year, delivering dynamic performances and connecting with audiences wherever he takes the stage. Whether performing for an intimate crowd or taking over a packed venue, his goal is simple: deliver great music, keep the energy high, and make every show one people remember.

We can't wait to welcome Elli, Kimberly, and Victor to the stage for an unforgettable night! Don't forget to bring your own blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the music all evening. Food truck vendors Kona Ice and WillYum's will be on site around 6pm, with performances beginning at 7pm and concluding around 8:30pm.

Visual arts classes are back in October, and registration is now open! 🎨Join us at the Otis S. Johnson Cultural Arts Cen...
09/21/2026

Visual arts classes are back in October, and registration is now open! 🎨

Join us at the Otis S. Johnson Cultural Arts Center for visual and performing arts classes for youth, teens, and adults. In Fall 2 term, we’re offering a variety of classes in 2D art, ceramics, metals, and more with returning favorites and exciting new offerings.

Registration takes place on our new registration software, CivicRec. City of Savannah residents may register beginning Monday, September 21st at 12pm, and non-residents may register beginning Monday, September 28th at 12pm.

There are also still some spots available in our Fall 2026 workshops. Both residents and non-residents can sign up now on CivicRec.

Visit https://www.savannahga.gov/1041/Classes-Workshops to sign up today. Please call 912-651-6783 or email [email protected] for registration assistance or questions. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another creative and fun term of classes!

We had a great time this past Friday at the Not Away Collage Workshop led by artist Kelly Boehmer!Attendees enjoyed a de...
09/16/2026

We had a great time this past Friday at the Not Away Collage Workshop led by artist Kelly Boehmer!

Attendees enjoyed a demonstration from Kelly before diving into their own creative process selecting materials and creating one-of-a-kind collages inspired by her work. It was an evening filled with creativity and collaboration.

There’s still time to experience Not Away in our Gallery! The exhibition closes Saturday, September 26, so be sure to stop by before it’s gone. We’ll then make way for a new exhibition opening Friday, October 16, presented in collaboration with SoyxSoy. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more details.

Address

201 Montgomery Street
Savannah, GA
31401

Opening Hours

Monday 8:15am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:15am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:15am - 5pm
Thursday 8:15am - 5pm
Friday 8:15am - 5pm

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