We’re thrilled to celebrate our incredible nonprofit partner, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Nestled in the heart of Atlanta, Callanwolde is more than just a place to take an art class, it’s a vibrant hub of creativity, community, and history.
Callanwolde believes that art should be for everyone. That’s why they’re breaking down barriers to access, making sure that world-class programs in dance, music, painting, pottery, and more are within reach for low-income families, veterans, people experiencing housing insecurity, and individuals with disabilities. Their mission isn’t just about teaching art, it’s about building equity, opening doors, and creating a more connected, expressive Atlanta.
Learn more about Callenwolde Fine Arts Center!
Tell us about your organization – what’s your mission, and what does it mean to the our community?
Our mission is to provide the Atlanta community with premier, accessible arts education, especially to the underserved, while promoting enjoyment of the arts at the historic and inspiring Callanwolde estate. Callanwolde is dedicated to addressing the gap in access to high-quality arts education, ensuring that it is available to all members of the community, regardless of financial means or socio-economic background. Our focus is on making a diverse range of arts education opportunities accessible, particularly to underserved groups such as low-income families, veterans, individuals facing housing insecurity, and people with disabilities.
Can you share some impact stats or comments about the work being done by your organization?
Our Art Scholars program, which began in 2022, served over 300 3rd-5th graders from six different Title I schools in south DeKalb County during 2024. Students attended 20 days of free arts programming throughout the year during teacher workdays and school breaks. In 2024, we launched a new program called Young Artists League. This 12-week art after-school program was introduced at Kelley Lake Elementary. Callanwolde provides students with art materials for the classroom and home, high-quality instruction, and transportation at no cost to families. In addition to Kelley Lake Elementary, Dance Progressions added Oak View Elementary to the program. 29 students who qualify for Title I assistance participated in 24 weeks of free after-school dance programming and performed at the Callanwolde Spring Recital. Our final community concert of 2024, the 25th season of Jazz on the Lawn, featured Joe Gransden’s Big Band with special guest vocalists Karla Harris, Ruby Velle, and Robin Latimore. The concert sold over 550 tickets, breaking the previous record set by Grammy award-winning artist Samara Joy.
What’s the history of your organization? How and why did it get started?
Callanwolde is the historic estate of the family of Charles Howard Candler from 1920 until 1959. Howard Candler was the oldest son of Asa Griggs Candler, the Atlanta pharmacist who purchased the rights to the formula for Coca-Cola. In the 1970s, the Callanwolde Foundation was established to save the abandoned historic estate from development. The facility was eventually purchased by DeKalb County and established as a community arts center, providing top-tier arts education opportunities for decades. In recent years, Callanwolde has expanded its mission to include a particular focus on reaching underserved communities. We aim to make our diverse range of arts education opportunities accessible, particularly to underserved groups such as low-income families, veterans, individuals facing housing insecurity, and people with disabilities. By investing in these communities, we are enriching Atlanta's cultural fabric and fostering a legacy of creativity and expression for future generations.
What kind of programming do you offer to the community?
ARTS EDUCATION: Classes for adults and children in pottery, painting, drawing, jewelry-making, blacksmithing, weaving, photography, and dance. We also host six weeks of art camp each summer for children and teens. Financial aid is available for all of our classes based on merit and need.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS (offered tuition-free to qualifying participants): Art classes for adults with disabilities, veterans, Title I & Title III students, and previously unhoused individuals and families.
COMMUNITY ART PROGRAMMING: Callanwolde provides opportunities for community engagement year-round through our Spring Concert Series, Jazz on the Lawn Concerts, and Winter House: a seasonal celebration and opportunity for themed workshops, performances, and decor enjoyment. Concerts provide an accessible opportunity for performing artist to showcase their artistry to the local community. Our outdoor amphitheater holds up to 550 guests.
ART GALLERY: Callanwolde continues to expand its presence within Atlanta’s vibrant arts ecosystem, strengthening its role as a platform for emerging, mid-career, and established artists. Our gallery not only showcases dynamic and thought-provoking exhibitions, but also remains dedicated to supporting arts education initiatives and other organizations that share our mission of fostering creative expression.
What problem is your organization trying to solve, and can you tell us more about the issue?
Callanwolde is dedicated to addressing the gap in access to high-quality arts education, ensuring that it is available to all members of the community, regardless of financial means or socio-economic background. Our focus is on making a diverse range of arts education opportunities accessible, particularly to underserved groups such as low-income families, veterans, individuals facing housing insecurity, and people with disabilities. By investing in these communities, we are enriching Atlanta's cultural fabric and fostering a legacy of creativity and expression for future generations. Another key aspect of our mission is the preservation and enjoyment of the historic Callanwolde estate. Established in the 1970s to save this important piece of Atlanta's history, our foundation maintains the estate’s scenic grounds for the public to enjoy. Callanwolde plays host to concerts, weddings, and community events, offering a space for connection, reflection, and artistic celebration.
How do volunteers support your mission? What impact do they have on your work? What difference do they make?
Volunteers support our mission by enabling us to host large community-focused events despite our small staff. Volunteers are particularly helpful in staffing our Winter House holiday event in December and our spring and fall concerts. Not only do these events help create a space for connection, reflection, and artistic celebration, but they also earn revenue that we are then able to utilize in growing our underserved community engagement programming and financial aid. Volunteers are also key in helping us host Art Scholars camps, which invite up to 70 Title I 3rd - 5th graders to Callanwolde for week-long art camps. With only two full-time camp staff, volunteers are essential in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment during Art Scholars weeks.
What’s your biggest highlight or success from the past year?
Our biggest success has been the rapid expansion of our community engagement programming for Title I students. Thanks to the support from community funders and volunteers, we continue to be able to add additional Art Scholars camp days to the schedule, serving even more children who need somewhere safe to go during school breaks. We are also constantly exploring ways to expand our after-school art and dance programs into more schools. In 2024, we added an additional school to our Dance Progressions program, and launched a new visual arts program called Young Artists League.
How many volunteers do you need every month, and can you describe the experience of serving with your organization for the volunteer? What do they do? What’s a day in the life as a volunteer with your organization?
Our volunteers needs vary greatly month to month since we are very event-based. In the spring and fall we typically need 10-15 volunteers per month to assist with concerts and Art Scholars camps. We also have a well-attended week of Art Scholars camp a the end of the summer, which can take up to 10 volunteers. In December, our Winter House event utilizes up to 30 volunteers over the course of three weekends. Volunteers typically assist with things like check in, greeting and way finding, assisting children with art projects, craft clean up, and general supervision of kids during camp. We encourage our volunteers to be as dynamic as our events are... one day you may be organizing a check in roster or giving directions around the campus, the next you may be putting up holiday decor or cutting out paper shapes for an art project!
What types of projects do you offer? What are your biggest projects available, and needs from volunteers? Tell us about a few different offerings.
Art Scholars Camp Assistants: Great for folks who like working with young kids and don't mind a little controlled chaos! Volunteers are needed to provide general supervision, as well as assist instructors in leading art projects throughout the day.
Concert Helpers: Perfect for more outgoing volunteers who enjoy making folks feel welcome. Volunteers are needed to help with guest check in, greeting and way finding, and breakdown. You also get to enjoy the music for free!
Winter House Helpers: Great for anyone who likes to spread some holiday cheer. Volunteers are needed to help with guest check in, greeting and way finding, light clean up, and decor prep.
Who is your volunteer manager, and what’s their favorite thing about working for your organization?
Our volunteer manager is Becca Gross. She enjoys being a part of the wide variety of events, classes, and other offerings that are always going on around Callanwolde, and the freedom to be creative in her role.
What do volunteers love about working with your organization?
Our volunteers love getting to give back to the community while enjoying such a unique and beautiful space.
What’s going to be happening with your organization in 2025 that you’re really excited about?
We are really excited about some of the new community engagement classes we are planning to launch this year for veterans and folks looking for more therapy-informed art classes.
Let’s leave our readers with a list of ways they can jump in and get involved. Tell us how we can support you!
1. Join our volunteer email list at https://callanwolde.org/volunteer/. Our organization is constantly evolving and you never know when we may announce a new volunteer opportunity!
2. Our biggest volunteer need is with Art Scholars. If you are someone who loves working with children, please be on the lookout for the listing for our summer Art Scholars camp taking place in late July. It should be posted to Hands On Atlanta in the next few weeks.
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