Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center is a nonprofit community arts center located two miles east of downtown Atlanta on Briarcliff Road. The property consists of twelve beautifully landscaped acres nestled between the Virginia-Highland and Druid Hills neighborhoods. The center itself is a 27,000 square foot Tudor Gothic mansion that was completed in 1920. Callanwolde was the home of Howard Candler, son of Coca-Cola founder Asa Candler. Howard Candler was president of Coca-Cola from 1916 to 1923. The mansion was designed by Henry Hornbostel, who designed many of the buildings at nearby Emory University. The extensive grounds consist of formal gardens, extensive lawns, nature trails, a rock garden and a conservatory. The landscape was designed by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of New York’s Central Park. Callanwolde is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house and grounds are maintained by DeKalb County.
Callanwolde’s mission is to preserve, restore and develop Callanwolde property, and to be a premier public participatory art and cultural centre. Callanwolde offers a wide variety of classes for adults and children in the visual arts, literary arts and performing arts. The center also partners with Community Outreach Programs to bring the visual and performing arts to underserved communities in the greater Atlanta area.
Each year the center presents Christmas in Callanwolde, which has become a Christmas tradition in Atlanta. This year the activities are scheduled from December 1 to 12. The mansion will be elaborately decorated for the holiday season by some of Atlanta’s best interior designers. Visitors will be able to enjoy various special events at the center. There will be breakfast with Santa, tea with teddy bears, special musical entertainment and unique holiday shopping. At the Gingerbread Village, visitors will be able to view specialty gingerbread houses created by some of Atlanta’s best-known chefs. The Ice Battle will feature elaborate ice sculptures in a competition of ice carving skills. The winner of the competition will have the opportunity to go to Alaska in 2011 to compete in the World Ice Carving Championships. Callanwolde Christmas hours are Monday to Friday and Saturday 10am to 4pm, and Sunday 11am to 4pm Special Wednesday night hours are 4pm to 9pm for entertainment Cabaret Nights.
Visitors to Callanwolde will enjoy the beautiful grounds as well as the many activities that take place throughout the year at the Callanwolde Center for Fine Arts. The holiday season brings additional events to enjoy and festive Christmas decorations to feast the eyes on.