The Rail Arts District is a teeming artists' community in the metro-Atlanta area comprised of large art studios, formal galleries and dozens of individual studios for visual and performing artists. For the past decade these studios have grown, taking over mid-century industrial space and warehouse buildings along a portion of a CSX rail line that passes behind downtown Avondale Estates, into the Laredo Drive and Scottdale area, and along East Ponce De Leon Avenue into (East) Decatur.

Throughout the year, these active community art spaces offer lessons, exhibits, workshops, performance space, studio rentals, classes, and of course artwork sales and exhibits. Reasonably priced industrial space and strongly supportive surrounding communities have been the keys to the growth of this new Rail Arts District.

RAD Studio Cruise is an annual event that began in 2008 with a core group of studios in Avondale Estates working in concert with the city of Avondale Estates. Today, the event showcases an ever-expanding lineup of venues and artists to delight art collectors and enthusiasts from throughout Metro Atlanta.