The Spelman College Glee Club kicked off its 100th-year anniversary tour with a March 7 performance of “Resurgens Requiem: History, Heritage, Harmony” at the Krog Street Tunnel as part of the Creative Placemaking Communities and South Arts summit.

A group of student performers lined the graffiti-adorned tunnel and filled the space with sounds of spirituals and traditional Black choral music while community members and summit attendees watched. 

The “special activation” put on by regional nonprofit South Arts and national organization Creative Placemaking Communities took place at a key part of Atlanta’s art community:  Krog Tunnel, part of the BeltLine trail, is the link between the Cabbagetown, Reynoldstown and Inman Park neighborhoods. 

Vice President of Planning, Engagement, Arts and Culture at the BeltLine Lynnette Reid said art has always been a key part of the BeltLine. 

“When the BeltLine was originally created, the idea was we needed to create a way to incentivize people to get on the BeltLine, and art was that tool,” Reid said. “It’s become such a staple.” 

Krog Tunnel is known for its ever-changing graffiti that lines every inch of the concrete walls. 

“The tunnel has for many years been a sort of billboard for the city, as a place to voice public opinions as many know, and to practice art openly and freely,”  creative consultant Davis Butner said. “Many would know the Krog tunnel for its visual qualities but few really take stock of the oral qualities of the space.” 

Butner was inspired to host a performance after wandering through the tunnel on a busy day and noticing how resonant the acoustics were. He decided to create the immersive performance experience to allow the public to “experience the qualities of the tunnel and learn more about the…