Fund the Greenspace & Film at ArtsXchange!

A Living Landscape for Creativity, Culture, and Climate Resilience

Imagine a space where artists find inspiration, neighbors gather to connect, and the land itself thrives—where art and ecology come together to heal and sustain a community.

At The ArtsXchange, a historic Black arts institution that has uplifted artists and social change efforts since 1983, we are fundraising to create something truly transformative: a regenerative community greenspace that will support both the arts and the environment AND to make a film to inspire people in every community to come together and do just that! . This project isn’t just about landscaping—it’s about storytelling, resilience, and restoring our relationship to the land.

Why This Project Matters

The landscapes we live in shape our daily lives. Yet, conventional landscapes—lawns, paved lots, and chemically-treated spaces—are failing us. They deplete our soils, waste water, and strip our communities of biodiversity. These problems aren't just aesthetic or environmental; they impact everyone—our food, our water, our health, and our future.

This project reimagines what a community greenspace can be:

✅ Designed for and by the community

✅ A thriving, biodiverse ecosystem that filters rainwater, nourishes pollinators, and grows organic food

✅ A gathering space for artists, educators, and activists

✅ A model for regenerative landscaping—one that restores the land

The Film

Led by Shades of Green Permaculture—with 16 years of experience in regenerative landscaping—and captured by award-winning filmmaker Jonathan Banks, this film documents The ArtsXchange and its transformation of an overlooked and underutilized greenspace into a thriving, resilient ecosystem. This isn’t just a story of a single garden—it’s a vision for the future of our shared landscapes.

The landscape at The ArtsXchange represents the potential for every community to create greenspaces that nourish both people and the planet.

Imagine landscapes that don’t just look good, but actively heal—spaces where:

✅ Soil is alive and fertile

✅ Food grows for the community

✅ Pollinators and native species return

✅ Water is managed wisely, restoring balance

✅ People come together to reconnect with nature and each other

Through their Community Giveback Program, Shades of Green Permaculture has already donated over $100,000 in materials and in-kind services to projects like this, including $20,000 to The ArtsXchange. Volunteers are not just planting gardens—they're learning how to restore ecosystems, how to reclaim water, and how to turn dead spaces into places of abundance and taking these skills into their own neighborhoods.

Be Part of The Change, Be Part of the Story

This film is more than a documentary—it’s an invitation. What if every community transformed a space like this? What if we all took part in regenerating the places we share?

It starts with one project, one city, one community—but the ripple effect is boundless. This is a story of hope, action, and a vision for a future where our landscapes sustain us, rather than deplete us.

Are you ready to be part of the change?

How Your Support Helps

Your donation directly funds:

-A water system to capture and filter rainwater, protecting the land and the building foundation

-Native plants, edible gardens, and pollinator habitats for a resilient, multifunctional landscape

-Film production, editing, and distribution to spread this knowledge far and wide

Every dollar brings us closer to a future where landscapes heal communities, where artists are supported, and where community spaces flourish without barriers.

With a gift of $5, $50, or $500, you’re not just funding a garden—you’re fueling a vision for our shared landscapes and why they matter. Every dollar supports the transformation of this underutilized space into a thriving ecosystem–restoring soil, water, and biodiversity. But the impact doesn’t stop there. Your support also brings this story to life through film, inspiring communities far beyond this single garden. This isn’t just about one space—it’s about sparking a shift in how we care for our shared landscapes everywhere. Give today and be part of the ripple effect—turning one act of regeneration into a wave of change. ✨

Donate today. Share this campaign. Let’s grow better, together!

Who We Are and What We've Done

About The ArtsXchange

Founded in 1983, The ArtsXchange reshaped Metro Atlanta’s arts scene as an inclusive, multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary, and intergenerational arts center. It provides performance and rehearsal spaces, diverse arts education, and a hub for community engagement and social change. Dedicated to supporting Black artists, exposing the community to various cultural traditions, and inspiring new generations, the ArtsXchange empowers artists and residents through accessible, transformative creative experiences.

As a member of the Morehouse Medical School’s Health Equity Advisory Board, they advocate for health equity in East Point, Georgia. Through the Partnership for Southern Equity’s Justice40 Accelerator, they are part of Greening America’s Cities’ commitment to put money directly into the hands of community organizations—supporting land reclamation, urban farming, and green workforce development. This collaboration with Shades of Green reflects the ArtsXchange’s belief that the arts and the environment go hand-in-hand to enhance quality of life.

About Jonathan Banks

Jonathan Banks is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and creative director who loves the art of storytelling. He's been capturing and sharing the stories of people and places within his various communities for over a decade. Influenced by creatives like Gordon Parks, Dawoud Bey, and Jamel Shabazz, he aims to connect with culture on a very intimate level.

About Shades of Green Permaculture

Shades of Green Permaculture is a regenerative landscape design, build and education firm located in Atlanta, GA. Shades of Green Permaculture specializes in edible and ecological landscaping. Every outdoor space they create contributes to protecting biodiversity; growing food, medicine, and pollinator habitat; building soil, and restoring the water cycle. Founded in 2008, Shades of Green Permaculture has grown it into a team of 25+ and has worked with thousands of clients to apply permaculture across diverse contexts.

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