Foundation receives $1 million from Woodruff Foundation: January 6, 2014

The Woodruff Arts Center has sold the 14^th Street Playhouse, located at the corner of 14^th and Juniper Streets, to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) for $1.9 million. Proceeds from the sale after expenses will be used to invest in the arts in Atlanta in a variety of ways.

First, The Community Foundation will receive $1 million. Long known for its commitment to metro Atlanta’s arts organizations, The Community Foundation will create and steward a new fund serving performing arts organizations with a focus on theatre and dance companies, reflecting the types of organizations that historically performed at the 14^th Street Playhouse. The intent of this new Fund, to be rolled out in late 2014, is to provide competitive financial grants to nonprofit performing arts organizations and/or performance venues to help offset costs incurred to rent performance spaces.

The remaining proceeds will be used by the Woodruff Arts Center to design programs with local artists across multiple artistic disciplines.

The 14^th Street Playhouse was gifted to the Woodruff Arts Center in 1990 when prior owners faced financial issues. The property, which houses three theaters of different sizes, has been leased periodically by various organizations in recent years, but not on a continuing basis.

“Using the proceeds of this agreement in this way speaks directly to the mission of the Woodruff Arts Center and is consistent with the original intent of the gift of the property,” said Virginia Hepner, President and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center.  “It’s good stewardship of a community asset and the right thing to do for the arts.

“It’s an added bonus that the Playhouse will become part of the Savannah College of Art and Design, already a great partner with the Woodruff Arts Center and a key contributor to the vibrant arts and creative community in Midtown.”

SCAD will use the facility in concert with its newly added degree offerings in film and television and for special events such as the aTVfest, a celebration of television and new media.