In 1999, magazine publisher and arts lover Gregg Daugherty had an “ah-ha” moment. At the time, he worked with several local arts groups, producing their playbills and other collateral materials. Arts patrons relied on the marketing efforts of individual arts organizations to learn about exhibits and performances. Daugherty realized there was no single publication that represented Atlanta’s arts community as a whole. He imagined a magazine that would serve both artists and audiences by offering in-depth coverage of performers, choreographers, composers, visual artists, arts photographers and venues, as well as providing up-to-date performance and gallery information. And with that realization, Atlanta ShowGuide was born.

     Working in collaboration with the Atlanta Coalition of the Performing Arts, a nonprofit alliance of greater Atlanta's performing arts organizations and professionals, Daugherty premiered Atlanta ShowGuide in September 1999. The first cover featured painter Mark Vance, and began a tradition of featuring many local artists including Hans Godo Frabel, Steve Penley, Judie Jacobs and many more. 15,000 copies of the first issue were distributed at 10 locations around town. Ironically, the Ferst Center was the first venue to distribute Atlanta ShowGuide (and still provides the magazine to its patrons decades later).

     Fast forward to today. Nearly 85,000 copies of Atlanta ShowGuide are distributed semi-monthly to eager arts lovers at over 40 venues throughout the greater Atlanta area, and accessed 24/7 via www.AtlantaShowGuide.com. The magazine now focuses primarily on the performing arts and has expanded to include performance schedules and previews, artist interviews, behind-the-scenes peeks, gallery-worthy arts photography and stories about arts education, workshops, classes, arts festivals and much more. The yearly publication schedule includes a special Dance Issue, Holiday Issue and four Season Preview Issues. Nowhere else can Atlanta audiences find such a comprehensive overview of what’s happening onstage, backstage and in the rehearsal halls. A truly great city needs a thriving arts community. And a thriving arts community needs a voice like Atlanta ShowGuide.

"It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance and I know of no substitute whatever for the force and beauty of its process."
-Max Eastman, author and poet