The Rialto Center for the Arts has a rich history as downtown Atlanta's cultural centerpiece for over a century. It opened in 1916, in the historic Fairlie-Poplar district, as the Piedmont Theater, which became the Rialto Theater later that year, -- the largest theater in the Southeast and Atlanta’s first movie house. Georgia State University acquired the Rialto in 1993 and reopened it in 1996, after extensive renovations. Today, Our intimate, 833-seat performing arts venue is home to the highly-acclaimed Rialto Series, featuring the best of national and international jazz, global music and dance; and Georgia State’s School of Music performances and university events; as well as the go-to venue for visiting production companies and independent film screenings. Each year, the Rialto Center presents the Rialto Series--a unique performance series featuring world-class artists, presenting the best in world music, jazz, contemporary dance, and international programs, as well as the cinematic arts. In addition, the Rialto offers innovative educational programs to students and the general public. The Rialto is committed to serving the community through its extensive education and outreach programs including Rialto Jazz for Kids, Rialto2Go and Feed Your Senses. Our mission is to advance creativity, innovation and the boundaries of imagination through engaging arts, education and entertainment. In the spring of 2022, the Rialto was nominated for a Southeast Emmy Award for one of its live performance broadcasts. The Rialto is proud to be part of Georgia State University, an enterprising public research university in the heart of Atlanta. Georgia State is a national leader in graduating students from diverse backgrounds. The university provides its world-class faculty and more than 54,000 students with unsurpassed connections to the opportunities available in one of the 21st century's great global cities.