Oxford College Meets Arts Center Fundraising Goal with $1.2 Million Gift

Thanks to a $1.2 million gift from an alumnus, Oxford College of Emory University has reached its fundraising goal for new and expanded arts facilities that are part of the Renaissance at Oxford campus plan.

Hugh and Gena Tarbutton of Sandersville, Ga. (31082) are the donors, and the addition to Few Hall and the theater within will be named in their honor to recognize their generosity, according to Oxford Dean Dana Greene.

"With this gift, we have reached our construction funding goal of $3.15 million, which will be matched by the university to fund the $6.3 million project," says Greene. Groundbreaking for the project, which includes renovations of historic Few Hall and Williams Gymnasium, is scheduled for September. The work will take approximately one year to complete.

Tarbutton, a 1952 Oxford College and 1955 Emory business school graduate, and his wife are long-time supporters of the college. He was elected to Oxford's Board of Counselors in 1983 and was named a permanent member of the group last year. He is president of Sandersville Railroad Company.

Following a two-year feasibility study of arts facilities, the college retained the firm of Surber, Barber, Choate, and Hertlein Architects Inc. to renovate and adapt existing facilities for expanded arts use. The Atlanta firm is known for its expert restoration and preservation projects including Central Presbyterian Church, the North East YWCA and the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta, and the Upson House in Athens, Ga.

The project will involve restoring and renovating Williams Gym and expanding and restoring Few Hall, using original architectural details in historic photographs as a guide. A new addition, built off the northeast corner of the building, will complement Few Hall's classic proportions and will house a 120-seat theater, scene shop, lobby and ticket office as well as rehearsal space.

Williams Gym will be refurbished to provide dance and music performance space plus classrooms while still housing dance and athletics classes. A lobby will be added to serve patrons and make the performance space handicap-accessible. When completed, the upper-level space will feature retractable seating for 180 and a movable stage. The larger Renaissance at Oxford campus plan calls for preserving facilities on the historic campus through restoration and adaptive reuse.

Fundraising efforts are not entirely finished, however. "We will continue to seek funding for operational, programmatic and maintenance costs in relation to the project," Greene says. "Increasingly in contemporary life the arts are a necessity, not an extra. We are grateful to those who can help us bring the performing arts center to fruition and assist us in enlivening and strengthening the appreciation of the arts at Oxford College and in the community." Greene hopes to make the venues available to the community when not in use by Oxford students.
Oxford College is a small, two-year residential college specializing in the foundations of liberal arts education, and is one of nine divisions of Emory University. The college is located on the university's original 1836 campus in Oxford, Ga., 38 miles east of the Atlanta campus.

Return to Archived Business and Philanthrophy Releases