Woodruff Arts Center facts for kids
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| Established | 1968 |
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| Location | 1280 Peachtree Street Atlanta |
| Public transit access | Arts Center station |
The Woodruff Arts Center is a large and exciting place in Atlanta, Georgia. It is a special spot where you can experience both visual arts (like paintings and sculptures) and performing arts (like plays and music). This center is home to three major arts groups, all located on one campus. It first opened its doors in 1968. Today, it includes the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the High Museum of Art.
Contents
About the Woodruff Arts Center
The Woodruff Arts Center is a hub for creativity and learning in Atlanta. It brings together different art forms to inspire people of all ages.
A Special History
The story of the Woodruff Arts Center began with a very sad event.
Remembering a Tragedy
In 1962, something terrible happened to the city of Atlanta. An airplane carrying many important people from Atlanta's arts and community crashed in Paris, France. This was a huge loss for the city. As people grieved, they decided to create something special to remember those who were lost. This sad event became a reason to build a new center for the arts. It led to the creation of the Atlanta Arts Alliance.
Growing Over the Years
The center, first called the Memorial Arts Center, opened on October 5, 1968. An Atlanta architect named Joe Amisano designed the building. In 1982, it was renamed the Woodruff Arts Center. This was done to honor Robert W. Woodruff, who was a very generous supporter.
When it first opened, the center included the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the High Museum of Art. These groups joined together as one organization. In 1970, the Alliance Theatre became the fourth part of the Woodruff Arts Center. Later, in 2005, a fifth group called Young Audiences joined. This addition helped the Woodruff Arts Center reach over one million children each year with its programs. This is the largest number of children reached by any arts center in the country!
The campus grew even more in 1983. A new building for the High Museum of Art was added. This building was designed by Richard Meier, who was a very famous architect. He even won a special award called the Pritzker Prize.
In November 2005, the Woodruff Arts Center had its biggest expansion since it first opened. New buildings were added for the High Museum of Art. There was also a new place for offices and art care. A residence hall and a sculpture studio were built too. The center also added a restaurant and a public plaza. This new "village for the arts" was designed by another Pritzker Prize-winning architect, Renzo Piano from Italy.
More recently, in August 2024, the Woodruff Arts Center started building new spaces for children. These are called the Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families and the PNC PlaySpace. These new performance and educational areas are planned to open in January 2026.
What You'll Find There
The Woodruff campus covers about 12.25 acres, with plans to grow to 18.25 acres. It has a lot of space for art exhibits, learning, and performances. There is also a large parking garage underground.
The Woodruff Arts Center is home to some amazing groups:
- The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, which has won a Grammy Award for its music.
- The Alliance Theatre, which has won a Tony Award for its plays.
- The High Museum of Art, where you can see many incredible artworks.
More to Explore
- List of concert halls
- List of museums in Georgia (U.S. state)
