Atlanta Nonprofit Secures Full Ownership of Arts Facility

Moving in the Spirit expands youth programming and cultural offerings at Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA station

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Atlanta nonprofit Moving in the Spirit has announced that it has taken full ownership of its arts and youth development facility located at the Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA station. The $10 million, 21,500-square-foot building includes dance studios, a theater, and other amenities, and will allow the organization to serve up to 500 youth annually and reach thousands more through workshops, performances, and partnerships.

Why it matters

The ownership transfer completes a multi-year partnership between Moving in the Spirit, MARTA, Columbia Ventures, and Perkins & Will to develop this transit-oriented arts hub, which first opened in 2020 as part of the Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA station's Phase II expansion. Securing full ownership ensures the nonprofit can remain a creative and supportive home for generations of Atlanta youth, while also strengthening its role as a cultural anchor along the city's eastside transit corridor.

The details

The facility includes two professional dance studios, a 138-seat theater, and a wheelchair-accessible technical booth. Moving in the Spirit says the new space doubles its capacity and allows it to serve up to 500 youth annually, in addition to reaching thousands more through workshops, performances, and partnerships. The organization utilizes the art of dance to help youth develop social, emotional, and leadership skills, with nearly half of its students receiving sliding-scale tuition.

  • The $10 million arts and youth development facility originally opened in 2020 as part of Phase II of the Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA transit-oriented development.
  • Moving in the Spirit has now taken full ownership of the facility, completing a multi-year partnership with MARTA, Columbia Ventures, and Perkins & Will.

The players

Moving in the Spirit

An Atlanta nonprofit that utilizes the art of dance to help youth develop social, emotional, and leadership skills.

Shalondra Henry

The executive director of Moving in the Spirit.

Henry Kelly

The board president of Moving in the Spirit.

MARTA

The public transportation system serving the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Columbia Ventures

A real estate development company that partnered with Moving in the Spirit and MARTA on the Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA transit-oriented development.

Perkins & Will

An architecture and design firm that partnered with Moving in the Spirit, MARTA, and Columbia Ventures on the Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA transit-oriented development.

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What they’re saying

“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. 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.”

— Shalondra Henry, Executive Director, Moving in the Spirit (roughdraftatlanta.com)

“This achievement is a testament to years of careful planning, partnership and belief in our mission. 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.”

— Henry Kelly, Board President, Moving in the Spirit (roughdraftatlanta.com)

What’s next

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

The takeaway

This ownership transfer represents a significant milestone for Moving in the Spirit, allowing the nonprofit to deepen its commitment to providing accessible, high-quality arts education and youth development programs for Atlanta families. The facility's direct connection to public transit also underscores the organization's efforts to make its offerings more inclusive and equitable for the local community.