South Arts names Doug Shipman as next president and CEO
South Arts has selected Doug Shipman to serve as its next president and CEO, effective Jan. 20. He will lead the regional arts organization as it enters its 50th anniversary year.
Shipman, a former Atlanta City Council president and past CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center, brings experience across the private, nonprofit and public sectors. His background includes strategy and operations consulting, guiding organizations through periods of transition, and advising startups and established institutions in the U.S. and abroad.
Shipman said he looks forward to joining South Arts during a period of change and growth, noting the role the arts play in supporting artists and cultural organizations in the South.
Gretchen Wollert McLennon, board chair and interim president and CEO, said Shipman’s leadership record in cultural and civic institutions made him a strong fit for the position. She cited his fundraising experience and relationship-building skills as key strengths he brings to the role.
South Arts supports artists and arts organizations across the region through grants, fellowships and capacity-building programs. The organization said Shipman’s appointment positions it to expand that work as it looks toward the future.
— Derek Prall
First right whale calf of the season spotted off South Carolina
The first North Atlantic right whale calf of the 2025-26 season was spotted Nov. 28 off Litchfield by the Sea, South Carolina. Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute’s aerial survey team identified the calf with its mother, a 17-year-old whale known as Champagne.
The sighting marks Champagne’s second documented calf. Her first, named Wall-E, was born in 2021. Champagne was born in 2009 to a whale known as Spindle, the most prolific mother in the population with 10 documented calves, according to the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog maintained by the New England Aquarium.
North Atlantic right whales are among the most endangered marine species, with an estimated 384 remaining. The whales migrate each year between feeding grounds off Canada and New England and calving areas off the Southeast coast. Vessel strikes and entanglement in commercial fishing gear remain the primary threats to the species.
Researchers say conservation efforts have helped stabilize population trends in recent years, though births vary widely from season to season. Eleven calves were recorded last year, while some recent years have seen as many as 20.
— Derek Prall
City to expand Campbellton Park with new land acquisition
Chattahoochee Hills will expand Campbellton Park by nearly 79 acres through a land acquisition completed with support from Trust for Public Land and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The purchase adds 0.65 miles of protected Chattahoochee River frontage and increases the park’s footprint from 18 to more than 95 acres.
The $2.5 million project was funded largely through a $1.919 million Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program grant, along with a land donation from one of the property owners. Officials said the expansion strengthens the park’s role as a key stop along the Chattahoochee RiverLands Camp + Paddle Trail, a regional network designed to improve river access and outdoor recreation.
Trust for Public Land leaders said the acquisition marks a significant step in advancing the broader Chattahoochee RiverLands vision. City officials said the additional land preserves riverfront property for future generations and supports plans for continued improvements, including expanded trails and new interpretive features.
Campbellton Park is one of the designated take-out sites on the 48-mile Camp + Paddle Trail and has received ongoing investment in recent years. Past upgrades include a state-funded boat ramp, new restrooms and showers, ADA-accessible campsites, gathering spaces, trails and ecological restoration work.
The Chattahoochee RiverLands initiative aims to connect residents across 20 cities and seven counties to the river through trails and water access points.
— Derek Prall
Peach Bowl projected to top $5 million in charitable giving this season
Peach Bowl, Inc. expects to donate more than $5.2 million during the 2025-26 college football season, continuing its run as one of the sport’s leading charitable organizations. The commitment brings the group’s all-time giving to more than $69.7 million.
The organization’s philanthropy is funded through its Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Aflac Kickoff Games and the Southern Company Peach Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament. This season marks the 19th consecutive year the Peach Bowl has donated at least $1 million and the eighth year it has surpassed $5 million in annual giving.
Gary Stokan, the organization’s CEO and president, said the Peach Bowl remains focused on supporting communities in Atlanta and across Georgia. He said its mission centers on using football to benefit people and organizations in need.
This season’s donations will support several programs, including the Peach Bowl LegACy Fund at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, which backs clinical trials and treatments for childhood cancer. Other recipients include the College Football Hall of Fame, the John Lewis Legacy of Courage Endowed Scholarship Program, university head coach foundations and the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation.
— Derek Prall
Book signing to highlight new guide to Atlanta’s civil rights history
Bantam & Biddy in Ansley Mall will host a book signing and conversation with author and preservationist Gene Kansas to mark the release of his new guide, “Civil Sights.” The book explores the people, places and stories that define Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn Historic District, the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. and the modern Civil Rights Movement.
Kansas, whose work focuses on historic preservation, adaptive reuse and storytelling, will meet attendees, sign copies and discuss the cultural and architectural landmarks featured in the guide. He said the project is intended to encourage residents to learn more about the city’s civil rights legacy and support efforts to protect it.
The event invites guests to experience the restaurant’s neighborhood setting while engaging with Kansas about the history of Sweet Auburn. Organizers said the gathering offers an opportunity to connect with Atlanta’s past and consider how its stories continue to shape the city’s future.
— Derek Prall
