Development: The New Patron of the Arts

What exactly is the Serenbe Institute for Art, Culture and the Environment and why did Steve Nygren start it? The first arts program, AIR Serenbe, an artist-in-residence program, kicked off the Institute, with big plans to fund a pottery studio. There was early success with the residency but no permanent home, artists stayed in resident’s extra bedrooms or garage apartments. Since then Serenbe partnered with Auburn University’s design build architecture program, Rural Studio, to build two dedicated artist cottages on the Art Farm at Serenbe. Since then, the Institute has grown, introducing Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre in 2017, a Serenbe Fellows program, Serenbe Film with more units and programming that bring all forms of art and environment programming to the community and visitors from around the globe.

Questions Answered

What is the Serenbe Institute for Art, Culture & the Environment?

Why was it important for Steve Nygren to honor the arts in a specific way at Serenbe?

How do Serenbe residents support the Serenbe Institute?

How did Steve Nygren get the idea to use transfer fees as a permanent source for arts funding at Serenbe?

What was the first arts program in Serenbe?

How did former Atlanta Ballet principals end up creating a company under the Serenbe Institute?

People + Organizations Mentioned

Serenbe Fellows

Shelton Stanfill

Mayor Shirley Franklin

South Fulton Area Initiative

Telluride Film Festival

Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre

Tom Swanston

Tom Reed

Tomlinson-Graham Group

Acton Academy

AIR Serenbe

Anis Mojgani

Art Farm at Serenbe

Art Over Dinner

Arthur Blank Foundation

Atlanta Ballet

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