"There’s no question that the field of art has changed dramatically over the last 20 years, and that artists now require expansive, flexible spaces. The Athenaeum would be an incomparable asset for Athens – a real draw for contemporary artists working in important, experimental ways."

— Paul Pfieffer

The Athenaeum

As in ancient Greece, the Athenaeum is a sanctuary dedicated to learning – a place where people gather and engage leading artists and scholars in pursuit of goals once associated with Athena, goddess not only of art and civilization, but also the many noble goals that art can serve: wisdom, courage, and justice.

The Athenaeum is extraordinary educational resource for students at the University of Georgia. It provides them with access to work by today’s leading practitioners and uses innovative programming such as lectures, performances, and workshops to connect art to vital issues. Encouraging multi-faceted, cross-disciplinary conversation, the Athenaeum is a site for the exchange of ideas about art and the many issues on which it touches.

Why Support the Athenaeum?

This large, open-format contemporary art space will expose UGA’s students and the citizens of Athens to art and artists rarely seen outside of cities like New York, Berlin or Miami. The Athenaeum has the potential to transform the School of Art and dramatically enhance the University of Georgia’s reputation as a premiere destination for contemporary art and culture.

For our Students 

Cutting-edge exhibitions, supplemented by educational programming with leading scholars, curators, and artists, will profoundly enrich the University’s curricula in Art, Art History, Art Education and Curatorial Studies, providing immediate, repeated exposure to leading practitioners in these fields.

For the University of Georgia 

Aligning the University of Georgia with the most advanced forms of contemporary art will enhance the reputation of the University and advance its reputation as a forward-thinking institution committed to the unique value of art, creativity, and innovation.

For Athens 

Located downtown, within walking distance of the city bus and several low-income housing communities, the Athenaeum is a space where the many diverse communities of Athens will come together to look, talk, and listen. As important as the art displayed will be the programming around it and the cultivation of community, bounded by art and the many ideas, issues, and topics to which it responds.

"The Athenaeum has the potential to transform the School of Art and dramatically enhance the University of Georgia’s reputation as a premiere destination for contemporary art and culture."

— Paul Pfieffer