ATLANTA (Oct. 16, 2020) -- Atlanta Ballet announced today its efforts to raise $5 million over three years to recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 2,600 gifts and pledges account for $1.1 million raised thus far, including lead gifts from the Atlanta Ballet Board of Trustees, AT&T Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation and the Zeist Foundation. Additionally, hundreds of gifts have come from generous patrons who have enjoyed The Nutcracker and other performances throughout the years, as well as parents and students who depend on the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education for premier dance training.

 “Our inability to present live performances due to public health guidelines, our limited ability to conduct classes, and our restricted ability to offer donor engagement experiences this year had a profound effect on our operating budget,” said Elizabeth Adams, Chair of Atlanta Ballet’s Board of Trustees. “In order to fully recover and provide some cushion as we approach the 2021 and 2022 seasons, we established a $5 million goal to fund basic needs including dancer, musician, faculty and staff employment, as well as production and school operations.”

Earlier this year, Atlanta Ballet had to cancel the remainder of its 2019|2020 Season, close its Centre for Dance Education, postpone fundraisers and suspend all community engagement programming due to COVID-19. In addition to the cancellation of its 2020|2021 September program, its highest grossing program in December, The Nutcracker, was cancelled.

“The recent healthcare crisis put a halt in our ability to deliver on our mission, but also put our vision in jeopardy – to be a recognized premier company on a global scale rich in diversity and repertoire and a respected education and community outreach partner in Atlanta,” said Lynda Courts, Co-Chair of the Back to the Stage Campaign Committee. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our supporters who have helped us keep our doors open.”

 “Our initial goal is to stabilize operations for the 2020-2021 season,” said Ginny Brewer, Co-Chair, Back to the Stage Campaign Committee. “We are hosting a number of virtual campaign events this fall and into the spring to engage our donors, connect in meaningful ways, and raise critical funds demonstrating Atlanta Ballet as a worthy investment.”

More information and details about Atlanta Ballet’s Back to the Stage Campaign can be found at atlantaballet.com/support/back-to-the-stage-campaign.

 

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About Atlanta Ballet

Founded in 1929, Atlanta Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the country and the official state Ballet of Georgia. Atlanta Ballet's eclectic repertoire spans ballet history, highlighted by beloved classics and inventive originals. After 90 seasons, Atlanta Ballet continues its commitment to share and educate audiences on the empowering joy of dance. In 1996, Atlanta Ballet opened its Centre for Dance Education, which is dedicated to nurturing young dancers while providing an outlet for adults to express their creativity. The Centre serves over 150,000 people in metro Atlanta each year. Atlanta Ballet's roots remain firmly grounded in the Atlanta community and continue to play a vital role in the city's cultural growth and revitalization. For more information, visit www.atlantaballet.com, follow us on Twitter @atlantaballet, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atlantaballet.

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Julia Berg | Director of Public Relations – Atlanta Ballet
jberg@atlantaballet.com | 404.226.1127