Atlanta’s Woodruff Arts Center, the Midtown hub that is home to the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum of Art and Arts for Learning, has won a $38 million grant from the Woodruff Foundation, making all sorts of changes possible. Among them:
A full renovation of the Alliance Theatre mainstage, the first since it opened in 1968. The layout of the space will change dramatically. Both the orchestra and balcony levels will be accessible from inside the theater; the space will feel more intimate; and better acoustics are among technical changes planned. Expect improvements, too, to the rehearsal and multipurpose areas. These changes will cost an estimated $11.5 million. The Alliance expects to inaugurate its new space for the 2018 season. Doing so means the company will have to find an alternate venue for one season. It is being planned by the Atlanta architectural design firm tvdesign.
Endowment matching funds for each arts center partner to support core artistic and educational programming, including funds to match gifts for ASO musician positions. These funds total $25 million.
Improvements to patron services, food and beverage, ticketing technology and environmental investments at the High Museum and throughout the Memorial Arts Building at a cost of about $1.5 million.
This is the largest gift in the art center’s 46-year history. Stay tuned for more details.
