ARTS
2011-’12 Candler concerts
Emory’s Schwartz Center for Performing Arts recently announced its 2011-12 Flora Glenn Candler Concert Series focusing on classical, world and contemporary music. The six-concert series opens Oct. 27 with violinist Hilary Hahn, Gramophone magazine’s artist of the year, and also includes the Kronos Quartet collaborating with leading musicians from Azerbaijan and Afghanistan (Feb. 17). A special presentation is the dance troupe Abraham.in.Motion performing “The Radio Show,” an abstract narrative on the loss of communication (Feb. 23-25). www.arts.emory.edu. HOWARD POUSNER

MOVIES
Atlanta Film Festival honorees
Nine films and one individual were honored at the 2011 Atlanta Film Festival, which concluded last weekend. In the bigger categories, the grand jury prize for narrative feature went to “Prairie Love”; the grand jury prize winner for documentary feature was “An African Election”; and audience awards went to “Sahkanaga”cq (narrative feature) …

Continue reading Culture notes: Emory announces ‘11-12 Candler Series, Atlanta Film Fest’s honorees »

By Howard Pousner
hpousner@ajc.com

The city of Atlanta’s support for artists and cultural groups appears heading for a significant cut, and the local arts community is preparing to rally.

In a recent e-mail to local arts organizations, Monica D. Prothro of the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs said the city is considering a 50 percent cut in fiscal 2012 for its Contracts for Arts Service program funding. If the cut is approved, the granting program’s budget would be reduced from $470,000 to $235,000. That would mean no funding for individual artists or community organizations and that only 30 arts organizations would receive support, Prothro wrote.

Local artists and arts groups, including WonderRoot, gloATL and Dance Truck, have created a “Rally for the Arts” Facebook page (www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=221318094561715)  inviting arts supporters to a rally outside City Hall at 5 p.m. May 12 and to voice support at a City Council finance committee public hearing that follows …

Continue reading City of Atlanta support for artists, groups appears heading for significant cut »

MOVIES
Fox summer series
The Fox Theatre has announced the first titles in its 2011 Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival: “The Social Network” (7:30 p.m. June 9), the 2010 “True Grit” remake (7:30 p.m. June 10), “Rango” (2 p.m. June 11) and “To Kill A Mockingbird” (7:30 p.m. June 11). July and August films will be announced later. General admission tickets (includes “Mighty Mo” organ sing-a-long and classic cartoon), $8, are available at the Fox box office and at Ticketmaster outlets, 1- 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com. Evening pre-screening wine-tastings, $12. HOWARD POUSNER

MOVIES
Strand series
The historic Earl Smith Strand theater on the Marietta Square has announced a varied spring-summer slate of 20 movies, opening at 8 p.m. FridayMay 13 with “The Godfather.” The series ranges from classics such as “Some Like It Hot” to more recent favorites such as “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” and from four silent film programs accompanied by the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ …

Continue reading Culture notes: Fox and Strand announce film series; Buckhead Spring Arts & Crafts Festival this weekend »

OPERA
Songs of Br’er
The Atlanta Opera has commissioned a one-hour children’s opera based on Joel Chandler Harris’ Br’er Rabbit stories from Atlantans Madeleine St. Romain (libretto) and Nicole Chamberlain (score). The first commission in the company’s history will be performed by the Atlanta Opera Studio in elementary schools Oct. 24-Nov. 18 and Feb. 13-March 30, 2012, with a public premiere Oct. 29 2011 at the Wren’s Nest as part of National Opera Week. Information: Emmalee Iden, 404-881-8883 or eiden@atlantaopera.org. HOWARD POUSNER

EVENT
‘Mad’ family fun
The performing and visual artists of the Woodruff Arts Center’s Young Audiences division are more familiar to metro school kids than they are to their parents. But from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 7, kids of all ages can get in on the act during the 2011 Mad Hatter event at the Woodruff’s Memorial Arts Building. Eric Litwin, Laughing Matters, Pickleshoes and Havana Son will provide the entertainment, and there …

Continue reading Culture notes: Br’er opera commissioned; Mad Hatter family fun Saturday; Millennium Gate art donation »