Beloved Education Floor at the Center for Puppetry Arts gets a fresh new look from community partners ahead of Rudolph’s return

ATLANTA (November 2025) — Just in time for the most wonderful time of year, the Center for Puppetry Arts is giving one of its most beloved spaces a well-deserved makeover. In partnership with IKEA Atlanta, the Center has refreshed its Education Floor—a memorable hub for creativity, learning, and imagination for generations of Atlanta families. The revitalized space will welcome guests this November alongside the return of the Center’s cherished holiday tradition, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™, running Nov. 12–Dec. 28, and the accompanying exhibition Festive Features, sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery and Kaiser Permanente.

Located in the former Spring Street Elementary School at the core of the Center’s campus, the Education Floor has hosted generations of Atlanta students for field trips and hands-on puppet building. The space still retains its original classroom layout, including chalkboards with lesson plans and drawings from 1933. IKEA Atlanta’s partnership provides new furnishings in the classrooms along the main hallway and a redesigned color scheme reflecting the original designs. Flexible classroom tables and chairs and comfortable seating throughout the hallway support workshops and school programming while creating a warm, playful environment for learning and creativity.

Community Collaboration

The project also benefited from the contributions of Warner Bros. Discovery volunteers from their annual Impact Day, who helped paint the Education Floor hallway and assemble new furniture provided by IKEA Atlanta. Their support helped ensure the space was ready for the holiday season, reflecting a shared commitment to arts education and community engagement in Atlanta.

“We are thrilled to partner with IKEA Atlanta to refresh our Education Floor,” said Executive Director Beth Schiavo. “With IKEA’s support, and the hands-on help of Warner Bros. Discovery volunteers, we’ve created a vibrant space where every child can explore, create, and discover the joy of puppetry.”

As the Center settles into the redesign, the space will also tell the story of Spring Street Elementary School’s history, with a forthcoming exhibition wall of historic photos and interpretation.

Rudolph Returns for the Holidays

The redesign will conclude just in time for the return of the Center’s cherished holiday production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™.” The production takes audiences on a magical journey to the North Pole, telling the heartwarming story of embracing what makes each of us unique. Adapted from the classic 1964 Rankin/Bass TV special, the show features festive cheer and unforgettable characters that delight audiences of all ages and capture the spirit of the holiday season.

Festive Features Exhibition

Guests visiting during the run of “Rudolph” can also enjoy the Festive Features special exhibition, on display Nov. 9-Dec. 28, a seasonal showcase celebrating puppetry from classic holiday films and television. Highlights include the Santa and Rudolph stop-motion puppets from the original 1964 Rankin/Bass production alongside additions such as Charlie Horse and his King Antiochus costume from the 1995 TV movie “Lamb Chop’s Special Chanukah,” the return of The Jim Henson Company Reindeer from “The Ed Sullivan Show,” pieces from “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” and more.

Tickets and Visitor Information

Tickets to “Rudolph” performances include a Create-A-Puppet Workshop™, and admission to the Jim Henson Collection, Global Collection, Festive Features and free on-site parking. Tickets are on sale now at puppet.org.

About the Center for Puppetry Arts

Founded in 1978, the Center for Puppetry Arts is the nation’s largest nonprofit devoted exclusively to puppetry. The Atlanta-based center offers live performances, interactive workshops, and houses the world-renowned Jim Henson Collection, the Global Collection, and rotating special exhibitions. Home to the largest collection of Henson artifacts and more than 4,000 puppets from around the world, the center inspires learners of all ages through creativity and storytelling.