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.
2024 Annual Report
Thanks to dedicated Board members, instructors, volunteers, students, and staff, Callanwolde experienced tremendous success in 2024. Callanwolde’s definition of success, however, goes well beyond strong financial stability. We exist to serve the greater Atlanta community as an inspiring home for the arts: specifically, offering arts education to underserved communities, hosting live performances, ensuring the highest quality of arts instruction, and preserving the Callanwolde estate.
Art for All
Since 1972, Callanwolde has been a vital part of Atlanta’s arts community, offering an inspiring, historic campus where people of all ages and backgrounds can learn, create, exhibit, and perform. Serving more than 12,000 individuals each year, we provide high-quality classes across disciplines—from ceramics and textiles to dance, photography, writing, and media arts—alongside performances, exhibitions, and community programs. In 2021, Callanwolde expanded its mission to prioritize access for underserved communities, offering free and reduced-cost programming for Title I and III students, veterans, people with disabilities, formerly unhoused individuals, Through exceptional facilities, shared creative spaces, and a welcoming community, Callanwolde enriches lives by fostering artistic growth, professional development, and personal well-being.
Callanwolde Community Engagement
Community engagement is central to Callanwolde’s mission. Our 12-acre campus in the heart of Atlanta serves as a sanctuary where creativity, inclusion, healing, and connection can thrive. Through dedicated programs, we provide accessible tuition-free arts education and resources for veterans, Title I and III students, and adults with disabilities, and individuals who have experienced homelessness. With continued community and donor support, Callanwolde is committed to expanding these programs to meet the growing demand for equitable access to the arts.
Art Classes for Veterans
Callanwolde offers weekly painting and drawing classes for veterans living with PTSD, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center. These classes provide a safe, supportive environment where veterans can connect, express themselves creatively, and experience the restorative power of art. Graduates of the program may receive financial aid to continue classes at Callanwolde, with some participants pursuing new creative paths and professional opportunities. Since 2022, Callanwolde has also partnered with the VA’s Whole Health program to serve veterans transitioning out of homelessness.
Callanwolde is an approved and trusted partner of the Department of Veterans Affairs, providing art instruction for individuals in two of their mental health programs:
“Art Scholars” Workshops for Title I Students
Our Art Scholars program supports working families by offering free, full-day arts enrichment on select teacher workdays and school breaks. - In partnership with Ameris Bank, Callanwolde brings students from Title I schools to campus for immersive experiences in clay, painting, drawing, creative movement, and extended learning sessions led by professional instructors. Students receive meals and snacks throughout the day, removing barriers to participation.
After School Dance Progression Program
Our Dance Progressions Program provides free after-school dance instruction for students in under-resourced communities. Partnering with Title I elementary and middle schools in DeKalb County, Callanwolde offers weekly ballet and jazz classes, supplying students with dance shoes and apparel. The program culminates each year in a professionally produced recital, giving students the opportunity to perform for family and community members. Designed to inspire confidence and artistic growth, the program opens pathways for young dancers to pursue their passion in a supportive environment.
Workshops for Title III Students
Callanwolde partners with Global Village Project, a school for refugee girls, to provide art instruction as part of their weekly curriculum.
We also offer workshops at Callanwolde to students who have been in the United States less than one year and have limited English proficiency. Thanks to our donors, these children are exposed to enrichment opportunities to expand their creativity and cultural awareness in ways they have never experienced before. Workshops include painting, drawing, music appreciation, and creative movement.
The Ability Garden
The Ability Garden is a partnership with Trellis Horticultural Therapy Alliance to create wheelchair-accessible gardens and offer horticultural therapy workshops for people with disabilities. These hands-on programs promote inclusion, community connection, and empowerment through nature-based learning and creative expression. Participants engage in activities such as garden education, garden art, flower arranging, and art therapy using natural materials.
Financial Aid
