Exploring The Goat Farm Arts Center in Atlanta: What to Know Before You Go

The Goat Farm Arts Center is one of Atlanta’s most distinctive creative hubs—a mix of historic industrial buildings, artist studios, performance spaces, and film backdrops tucked just west of Midtown. If you’ve heard people talk about “that artsy place with goats in West Midtown” and want to know what it actually is, how to visit, and what happens there, this guide walks through it from an Atlanta local’s perspective.

Where Is the Goat Farm Arts Center in Atlanta?

The Goat Farm Arts Center is located in West Midtown (often called Westside), just a short drive from Midtown and Downtown Atlanta.

General area details:

• Neighborhood: West Midtown / Howell Mill area
• Nearby corridors: Howell Mill Road, Huff Road, Marietta Street
• Driving time:
  • About 10–15 minutes from Midtown (without heavy traffic)
  • About 15–20 minutes from Downtown
  • Around 25–35 minutes from Decatur or East Atlanta, depending on traffic

While the complex feels tucked away and almost hidden, it’s close to many popular Westside destinations, like the Westside Provisions District and warehouses-turned-breweries and design shops.

What Is the Goat Farm Arts Center?

The Goat Farm Arts Center is best understood as a multifaceted arts campus:

• Artist studios & workspaces in historic brick industrial buildings
• Performance and event venues for dance, theater, music, and experimental work
• Film and photo locations often used by local and national productions
• An environment that mixes industrial ruins, contemporary art, and urban nature

Rather than a traditional museum with fixed galleries and clear visiting hours, the Goat Farm has historically functioned as:

• A creative community where artists and small arts organizations work day-to-day
• A site for performances and installations, often contemporary or experimental
• A backdrop for film, TV, and photography, thanks to its distinctive look

For someone in Atlanta, it’s less like visiting the High Museum, and more like stepping into an arts village where different things may be happening at different times, depending on the schedule and the current stage of redevelopment.

What You’ll Typically Find at the Goat Farm

The specific activities at the Goat Farm can change over time, but historically visitors have encountered:

1. Artist Studios and Creative Workspaces

The older brick buildings house a variety of creative uses:

• Visual artists (painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media)
• Designers and fabricators
• Musicians and sound artists
• Small creative businesses and arts organizations

These studios are usually private workspaces, not open like a retail gallery unless there’s an open studio event or public program. When open houses or tours occur, they can be a great way to meet Atlanta artists and see work in progress.

2. Performance and Event Spaces

Over the years, the Goat Farm has hosted:

• Contemporary dance performances
• Experimental theater
• Avant-garde and indie music shows
• Site-specific installations and immersive experiences

If you’re in Atlanta and enjoy nontraditional arts experiences, keeping an eye on event listings associated with the Goat Farm or partner organizations can be worthwhile. Performances often make creative use of the industrial architecture and outdoor spaces.

3. Film, TV, and Photography Locations

If parts of the Goat Farm look familiar, it’s likely because you’ve seen them on screen. The property has frequently been used for:

• TV series and films shot in Atlanta’s booming production industry
• Fashion shoots and music videos
• Independent film and student projects

You may occasionally see production crews or areas temporarily blocked off for filming. If you’re visiting, respect any posted signs or barriers—these are active sets, not public attractions.

Is the Goat Farm Open to the Public?

This is where expectations matter for Atlanta visitors.

The Goat Farm is not a standard walk-in attraction with:

• Daily public touring hours
• A staffed front desk or visitor center
• A guaranteed schedule of exhibitions you can see any day of the week

Instead, access typically falls into a few categories:

Public Events and Performances

When there are ticketed events, performances, or public programs, the specific event details will usually clarify:

• Date and time
• Whether tickets or reservations are required
• Which building or area is being used

If you’re planning a visit, the most reliable way to experience the Goat Farm as a member of the public is to attend a scheduled event.

Limited General Access

At certain times in its history, portions of the grounds have been more informally accessible for:

• People attending events
• Artists and guests
• Occasional open studio days or arts festivals

However, because the site is partly private property, partly active workspaces, and partly under redevelopment, casual wandering is not always encouraged or allowed. Locals planning a visit should check the most current guidelines rather than assuming open campus-like access.

Safety and Respect for the Space

If you do visit:

• 🚫 Don’t enter buildings or areas marked as private or restricted.
• 🚫 Avoid climbing on structures, walls, or equipment—some are historic and fragile.
• 📸 If you’re doing a professional or commercial shoot, obtain permission in advance.
• 🐐 If animals are present (there have historically been goats on-site), treat them with respect and follow any posted rules.

How to Get to the Goat Farm Arts Center from Around Atlanta

By Car

Most Atlantans reach the Goat Farm by car:

• From Midtown:
  • Head west via 10th Street or 14th Street toward Northside Drive.
  • Connect to Howell Mill Road and follow toward West Midtown.
• From Downtown:
  • Take Northside Drive or the Connector to 14th or 17th Street, then toward Westside.

Parking situations can change with development, so check the most recent information on:

• On-site parking areas
• Overflow lots
• Whether rideshare drop-off zones are recommended

By MARTA and Rideshare

The Goat Farm is not directly on a MARTA rail stop, but you can get nearby:

• Take MARTA to Midtown Station or Arts Center Station, then:
  • Use a rideshare service for the last few miles, or
  • Connect to a bus route that serves the Howell Mill or Marietta Street corridor, and walk or rideshare from there.

If you don’t have a car in Atlanta, combining MARTA + rideshare is usually the most straightforward approach.

What to Expect When You Arrive

Because the Goat Farm is different from the usual “museum plus gift shop” setup, it helps to know what your experience may be like.

Atmosphere

Expect a mix of:

• Historic factories and warehouses with weathered brick and steel
• Gravel or uneven pathways in some areas
• Trees, vines, and pockets of greenery softening the industrial setting
• Sometimes, installations or outdoor artworks integrated into the environment

The feel is intentionally raw and layered, more like an art colony than a polished civic museum.

Accessibility Considerations

The historic nature of the site can mean:

• Some pathways are uneven or gravel-based
• Certain buildings may have stairs or limited elevator access
• Lighting may be lower in some areas, depending on the event

If accessibility is a priority for you or someone you’re visiting with, it’s a good idea to:

• Contact the event organizer or managing office ahead of time
• Ask specifically about building access, restroom accessibility, and parking

Events, Programs, and Ways to Engage

Depending on the current phase of programming and redevelopment, Atlantans can sometimes engage with the Goat Farm in several ways.

1. Attend Arts Performances and Installations

Look out for:

• Dance and movement-based works staged in unconventional spaces
• Experimental theater productions using the industrial backdrop creatively
• Music events or sound installations that engage the architecture and acoustics

These types of events often appeal to people who already enjoy indie, contemporary, or experimental art forms, but many are also accessible entry points for curious newcomers.

2. Keep an Eye on Collaboration with Local Arts Organizations

In Atlanta’s arts ecosystem, the Goat Farm has historically been connected, at various times, with:

• Independent dance companies and choreographers
• Theater collectives and performance groups
• Visual arts organizations and pop-up presenters

If you follow Atlanta-based arts organizations on social media or through mailing lists, you may see events periodically scheduled at or in collaboration with the Goat Farm campus.

3. Look for Open Studios, Tours, or Special Events

At times, the Goat Farm or participating artists have offered:

• Open studio afternoons
• Special seasonal events or festivals
• Guided or semi-guided access to parts of the property

These can be ideal for:

• Atlantans who want a first introduction to the space
• Visitors who prefer a structured reason to be on-site
• People scouting the location for potential future collaborations

Because offerings change, checking up-to-date event calendars and announcements is important.

Tips for Atlanta Locals and Visitors

Here are some practical considerations if you want to include the Goat Farm in your Atlanta plans.

For Locals Interested in the Arts

• Stay plugged into the local arts scene. Follow Atlanta-based dance, theater, and experimental arts groups—many will highlight when something is happening at the Goat Farm.
• Use it as a complement to other venues. Pair experiences there with visits to The Woodruff Arts Center, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre, or smaller black box spaces to get a full picture of contemporary art in Atlanta.
• Consider transportation timing. West Midtown traffic can be heavy around rush hour and weekend evenings, so build in extra time.

For Out-of-Town Visitors

• Don’t rely on walk-in browsing. Plan to attend a specific event or program, or coordinate with the hosting organization beforehand so you’re not disappointed by limited access.
• Combine it with a Westside outing. You can easily make a day of nearby spots—cafés, restaurants, or design shops along Howell Mill or in Westside Provisions District.
• Check weather and footwear. If your event involves outdoor or semi-outdoor areas, bring comfortable shoes suitable for uneven surfaces and check the forecast.

How the Goat Farm Fits Into Atlanta’s Cultural Landscape

For people trying to understand how the Goat Farm Arts Center fits into Atlanta more broadly, it helps to see it as part of a network of creative spaces that includes:

• Major institutions like the High Museum and the Woodruff Arts Center
• Neighborhood galleries and studios in areas such as Castleberry Hill, Cabbagetown, and East Atlanta
• Performance-oriented spaces that support contemporary dance, theater, and experimental music

Where the Goat Farm stands out is its combination of:

• Historic industrial character
• Working artist community
• Flexible performance and filming locations

For many Atlantans, it symbolizes a side of the city that’s independent, experimental, and less commercial, even as West Midtown continues to grow and change around it.

Key Takeaways About Visiting the Goat Farm in Atlanta

Here’s a simple snapshot to help you plan:

If you live in Atlanta or are spending time in the city and want to experience a more offbeat, working-arts environment than traditional museums typically offer, keeping the Goat Farm Arts Center on your radar—especially for performances and special events—can add a memorable, distinctly Atlanta flavor to your cultural calendar.