Arts Agenda - Abby Awards take stage
With arts charities scrambling to shore up funding support in the wake of Sept. 11, the eighth annual Abby Awards couldn’t come along at a better time. The annual event, to be staged Monday at Oglethorpe University’s Conant Center, provides one of the most high-profile mingling and networking opportunities for members of the usually isolated arts and business communities.
Arts advocates surely will be watching the bottom line at this year’s gala for an early gauge of what to expect in corporate giving; last year’s event raised about $60,000 for the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce’s Arts and Business Council.
As usual, the night is also a celebration of local achievement in the arts, media and fund raising, with 36 hopeful finalists competing for honors in nine award categories, from business leaders to individual artists to the past year’s most successful arts organization.
In a 10th category, the coveted lifetime achievement award, there will be no suspense: Nola Frink, longtime choral administrator for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, will be the subject of a tribute for her contributions. Atlanta’s Moving in the Spirit dance company is the only double nominee, for the arts education award and best overall arts organization. The 15-year-old group has already had a good 2001; it received a $25,000 grant from the Metropolitan Arts Fund this summer.
The Abbys also are a night for arts and business leaders to let their collective hair down and watch a series of performances and surprise production numbers on the Georgia Shakespeare Festival stage. As usual, this year’s program is being kept under tight wraps; Theatrical Outfit artistic director Tom Key, tapped to direct the event, will only allow that he’s titled the night “Imagine Atlanta” and that it will focus on themes of inspiration and youth.
The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce’s Arts and Business Council presents the annual Abby Awards Monday, Oct. 29, at the Conant Performing Arts Center, Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Road. Reception at 6 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $50-$60. 404-262-3013. www.metroatlantachamber.com.??