The Atlanta Opera has received a $27.5 million gift from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and will name its future permanent home the Molly Blank Center for Opera.
The Molly Blank Center for Opera will be constructed on Woodward Way in Buckhead and feature state-of-the-art facilities including a 200-seat recital hall, rehearsal spaces, administrative offices, and gardens. Renovating and expanding the historic Bobby Jones Clubhouse that opened in 1941 is part of the new opera campus.
Construction is scheduled to be completed in Summer 2027.
“My mother, an artist herself, believed in the power of the arts to bring joy and healing. As a sculptor and dancer, she loved attending concerts, theater, and opera in Atlanta and New York,” Home Depot co-founder and philanthropist Arthur Blank said in a statement. “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. We’re excited to support the new multi-disciplinary center on the Atlanta Beltline and the Molly Blank Discoveries Series, bringing opera to new audiences. I can’t think of a more perfect way to honor her legacy.”
“Few leaders have left as large an imprint on Atlanta as Arthur Blank,” said Tomer Zvulun, the Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera. “I personally admire his vision and am profoundly grateful for his generosity. It brings me great joy that our new headquarters will be named after his mother, Molly Blank, who adored opera. Her legacy of courage, compassion, community service, and much-loved sense of humor will inspire all we create and accomplish in the new facility.”
As a lead gift to The Atlanta Opera’s three-year $110 million comprehensive campaign, the Blank Foundation grant ensures that the Opera’s vision extends beyond constructing its new home, according to a press release.
This transformative gift designates $25 million to capital development and $2.5 million to their continued sponsorship of the Molly Blank Discoveries Series. The campaign is also set to enhance operational sustainability, enabling the company to continue presenting mainstage productions at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and further expanding its outreach programs.