EarRelevant Staff | 22 NOV 2024
ATLANTA, Georgia— The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has pledged a $27.5 million gift to The Atlanta Opera’s comprehensive campaign, advancing plans for a permanent home for the company named The Molly Blank Center for Opera. The center, expected to open in the summer of 2027, will be constructed on Woodward Way in Atlanta, transforming the historic 1941 Bobby Jones Clubhouse into a new facility with a 200-seat recital hall, rehearsal areas, administrative offices, and gardens.
Arthur Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot and a prominent philanthropist, highlighted the influence of his mother, Molly Blank, an artist with a passion for the arts. “My brother Michael and I are proud to carry on her passion for the arts, and we know she would be honored to see her name alongside one of the country’s top opera companies,” Blank said. The foundation’s gift will also continue its support of The Molly Blank Discoveries Series, a program designed to introduce opera to new audiences.
The Atlanta Opera’s General & Artistic Director, Tomer Zvulun, expressed his admiration for Blank’s contribution to the arts in Atlanta. “Few leaders have left as large an imprint on Atlanta as Arthur Blank. It brings me great joy that our new Opera headquarters will be named after his mother, Molly Blank, who adored opera,” Zvulun stated.
The Blank Foundation’s donation, as part of the Opera’s $110 million campaign, allocates $25 million for the capital project and an additional $2.5 million toward the Discoveries Series. The comprehensive campaign will also bolster the company’s financial stability, allowing The Atlanta Opera to maintain its mainstage productions at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and extend outreach programs. The company has expanded its programming and increased community impact, especially through educational initiatives and innovative performances.
Founded in 1979, The Atlanta Opera has grown significantly in recent years and is recognized for its ambitious productions and community involvement. Its achievements include creating the acclaimed Molly Blank Discoveries series, an International Opera Award nomination, and a 2023 Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Atlanta Opera staged an entire season of outdoor performances, gaining national media coverage and establishing a streaming platform that has expanded its global reach.
For more information about The Molly Blank Center for Opera, visit AtlantaOpera.org. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- The Atlanta Opera: divineartrecords.com
- Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation: blankfoundation.org
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