Historic merger brings Woodruff Arts Center, Young Audiences of Atlanta together
Combined effort vastly expands educational arts opportunities for children and youth in Georgia

ATLANTA, GA (Nov. 17) - When the respective Boards of the Woodruff Arts Center and Young Audiences of Atlanta, Inc. voted recently to add Atlanta’s affiliate of Young Audiences, Inc. as a new division at Woodruff, history was made for both organizations and a new force in arts education was born. Young Audiences of Atlanta become the first division to be added by the Woodruff since 1968, joining the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta College of Art, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the High Museum of Art. Young Audiences of Atlanta will join these groups as part of the Woodruff family and will operate under the Woodruff’s 501 (c) 3 status. Atlanta’s Young Audiences, formed locally in 1983, is the largest provider of in-school arts education programs in the state of Georgia and consistently serves over one million young people per year. The Woodruff Arts Center is currently one of the four largest arts centers in the country and more than 200,000 students from the metro Atlanta area attend educational programs and exhibitions offered by the Divisions of the Woodruff each year.

   The final vote of the Woodruff Arts Center Board of Trustees took place on Weds. Nov. 17th, capping a three year effort between the two organizations to make the merger a reality. The Board of Young Audiences of Atlanta voted on Oct. 26th to approve the merger, which will become official on January 1, 2005. Leaders on both sides see the union as positive and ground-breaking. “The wonderful thing about this merger is that it will result in so many more children having their education and lives improved through the arts”, states Tony Kimbrell, Executive Director of Young Audiences of Atlanta since 2001, “Truly, in this case, the total is greater than the sum of its parts. These organizations will be able to accomplish so much more together than we could have on our own. We are really looking forward to working collaboratively with the educational efforts of all the divisions of the Woodruff Arts Center.”

   Shelton g. Stanfill, President and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center, says of the merger, “This is the first time a major arts center has created a comprehensive and coordinated PreK – 12 arts education program that encompasses all its constituents – it’s unprecedented. We are looking to take a national leadership role in the arts education field – we hope to have other arts organizations follow our lead.” 

   Young Audiences of Atlanta now has a roster of 82 regional and national teaching artists and ensembles representing dance, music, theatre, visual and the literary arts. Their smART stART program, now in its 13th year, has successfully worked with local schools to help economically disadvantaged children develop crucial reading readiness skills. With funds provided by Fulton County, Atlanta’s Young Audiences has presented programs and residencies in libraries, community centers, senior centers and worked in tandem with the National Black Arts Festival. The Bureau of Cultural Affairs supports Young Audiences of Atlanta’s “Share the World” outreach, which provides underserved schoolchildren locally with exposure to international cultures and fosters understanding of diversity. In 1995 Young Audiences of Atlanta was the recipient of an Abby Award for Arts Education. Young Audiences of Atlanta currently offers over 300 educational arts, curriculum connected, programs to schools, libraries and community groups.