The Art of Change is aimed at enriching the arts community, initially through the development of a world-class center for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Our long-term goals:

• Position the proposed Atlanta Symphony Center as a resource for strengthening the arts community across metro Atlanta
• Use the Symphony Center to broaden participation in and public support for the arts in Atlanta

IF... we can help build a world-class center for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, THEN it can be a resource to enrich the arts community, broaden audiences and provide a catalyst for creativity in the Atlanta community. Arthur Blank chairs the capital campaign for the new Atlanta Symphony Center and in 2005 announced an increase in his lead gift from $15 million to $35 million – the largest single gift ever made by the Blank family.

We also continue to foster educational opportunities for promising musicians by supporting the Atlanta Symphony's Talent Development Program, which helps create a broader pool of classically trained musicians of color who are qualified to audition for major professional orchestras in the U.S.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has made solid progress in its fundraising for a new home, securing commitments of more than $100 million – roughly one-third of the amount needed for completion.

• The Blank Family Foundation's initial contribution was quickly followed by a $5 million commitment from Betty Gage Holland, complementing her gift of $1.4 million that funded the early acoustic and architectural planning for the project.
• A third cornerstone gift of $5 million from the Zeist Foundation was increased to $7 million.
• Arthur Blank at the Symphony Center design unveiling
  The State of Georgia became a cornerstone partner in 2004 when the legislature approved a sales tax exemption on the construction costs for the project, worth an estimated $7.5 million.
• Atlanta's corporate community demonstrated support for the Symphony Center in recognition of the important role the project will play in the future of the city and state. The Coca-Cola Company became the first corporate cornerstone partner by making the largest corporate foundation grant in the company's history: $10 million to support the Atlanta Symphony Center. SunTrust Bank joined Coca-Cola as a cornerstone partner with a gift of $5 million, also the largest philanthropic contribution in its history. Both Coca-Cola and SunTrust’s commitments set a new record for corporate gifts not only to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, but to any division of the Woodruff Arts Center as well.
• In early 2006, Atlanta law firms Alston & Bird and King & Spalding jointly committed $5 million to symphony center.
• Students in the ASO's Talent Development Program
  Another key development was the release of the Symphony's new economic development study, which projects that the Symphony Center will have a significant new economic impact on the state, county and city, including:
  • $2 billion in total new economic impact during construction and through 2020
  • $116 million in new tax revenues through 2020
  • 2100 new jobs

Contact:
Elise Eplan, vice president, eeplan@ambfo.com
Barbara Saunders, program officer, bsaunders@ambfo.com