Moving in the Spirit takes full ownership of arts facility

Atlanta nonprofit Moving in the Spirit announced that it has taken full ownership of its arts and youth development facility at the Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA station.

The ownership transfer completes a multi-year partnership the organization had with MARTA, Columbia Ventures, and Perkins & Will to develop the transit-oriented arts hub, which originally opened in 2020 as part of Phase II of the Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA transit-oriented development.

The $10 million building includes two professional dance studios, a 138-seat theater, and a wheelchair-accessible technical booth.

Standing at 21,500-square-feet, Moving in the Spirit says that the space not only doubles its capacity, but allows it to serve up to 500 youth annually and reach thousands more through workshops, performances and partnerships, in addition to being one of the few youth-focused arts centers in Atlanta directly connected to public transit.

“Owning our facility is more than a financial milestone, it is a promise to the young people we serve and all who have invested in this promise,” said Shalondra Henry, executive director of the local nonprofit. “This building was designed to be a place where children feel safe, seen, and celebrated, and where they can imagine bold futures for themselves  applying lessons of leadership and innovation. Securing full ownership ensures that Moving in the Spirit will remain a creative and supportive home for generations of Atlanta youth.”

Founded in 1986, Moving in the Spirit says that it utilizes the art of dance to “help youth develop social, emotional, and leadership skills they need to thrive,” with nearly half of its students receiving sliding-scale tuition to make arts education more accessible for Atlanta families.

With the full ownership of the development being made official, the organization plans on expanding its programming and strengthening “its role as a cultural anchor along Atlanta’s eastside transit corridor,” according to a press release. 

“This achievement is a testament to years of careful planning, partnership and belief in our mission,” said Henry Kelly, Moving in the Spirit’s board president. “Full ownership strengthens our long-term sustainability and allows us to focus our resources on what matters most: creating life-changing opportunities for children and teens.”

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