Woodruff Arts Center

Art is powerful.

At the Woodruff Arts Center, we believe art can transform lives and impact a community in a powerful way. Building upon more than 50 years of experience, we showcase art that reflect the stories, history, and heartbeat of our community. We not only pass the power of art on to the next generation through access and education, but we connect thousands of people – each one of them empowered to make this city stronger. This is the core of what we do as the Center of the arts in Atlanta.

Our history. The Woodruff Arts Center opened in 1968. Originally named the Memorial Arts Center, the Center was established as a tribute to the 130 Atlanta arts patrons and crew who died at Orly Airfield in France while journeying home from an arts tour in 1962. At the time, the plane’s passengers represented nearly all of Atlanta’s cultural leadership. Out of this tragedy, the concept of establishing a unified arts center emerged to realize the aspirations of those we lost: for Atlanta to be a premier destination for arts and culture.

Where we are today. The Woodruff Arts Center is home to three renowned artistic institutions: The Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and High Museum of Art. The Arts Center enriches the lives of more than 800,000 patrons annually, including more than 170,000 students and teachers, making the Woodruff Arts Center the largest arts educator in the state of Georgia.

With visual and performing arts as well as robust educational programming presented on a single campus, the Woodruff Arts Center brings together patrons of all ages, interest levels, and backgrounds.

Our Mission

The Woodruff Arts Center’s mission is to inspire, create, support, and celebrate renowned arts and education for diverse audiences through a unique model of partnerships and collaborations, and in an institutionally sustainable manner.

Learn more about Orly Memorial https://www.woodruffcenter.org/orly/

Thanks to the generous support of The Home Depot Foundation, the Woodruff Arts Center is proud to offer complimentary access to the arts for all active and veteran military personnel and their families. Please see below for information regarding how to attend performances, concerts, and exhibitions at the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and High Museum of Art, free of charge.

Alliance Theatre

The Alliance Theatre provides free tickets to live and virtual productions the first seven days of any given performance. In addition to free tickets, military families can receive a 15% discount off regular price tickets to any Coca-Cola Stage and Hertz Stage Production. To learn more about how to claim your tickets and discount, visit the Alliance Theatre website here.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra gives complimentary access to all virtual Behind the Curtain concert programming and free tickets to select performances. For instructions to redeem free tickets and Behind the Curtain access, visit this link on the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra website.

High Museum of Art

The High Museum of Art offers free admission for all active and veteran military personnel, along with one guest, during regular admission hours. Click here to learn more regarding the High Museum’s veterans access program.