Grand opening of the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts
While the arts may have suffered a decline in some high school and university curriculums in recent years, the University of Central Arkansas has continued to elevate its arts programs with the most cutting-edge technology and innovative performance spaces in the state and region. The highly anticipated grand opening and seal-breaking ceremony of the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts complex on Sept. 21, 2023 showed how UCA’s commitment to the arts is thriving.
This ambitious project was made possible by a $20 million gift from the Windgate Foundation, the largest single gift in UCA history. Significant contributions from the Bridges-Larson Foundation, Sunderland Foundation, the Alice L. Walton Foundation, the Hearst Foundations, and more than $419,000 from more than 121 individual donors helped make this plan a reality for the campus, for the community and beyond.
The UCA Board of Trustees also authorized the university to issue more than $25 million in bonds for the project.
All of this brought to fruition the completion of the building set to exemplify UCA’s dedication to the cultural pillar of the UCA Now campaign, a campaign recently completed ahead of schedule.
UCA President Houston Davis, during the opening ceremony, said, “When we set the priorities of the campaign, we identified ‘Culture’ as one of just four campaign pillars. Our students and faculty have outperformed UCA’s fine arts facilities for years. The Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts is allowing us to reshape the arts experience and usher in new social, cultural and economic opportunities for us all.”
This center for the arts, situated at the corner of Donaghey Avenue and Bruce Street, is sizable with 114,000 square feet of creative, collaborative and performance spaces, including: a concert hall, a percussion suite, a recital hall, art gallery, a photography studio, student studio spaces, sculpture studio, ceramics studio, a 190-seat black box theater, rehearsal and design spaces, classrooms and much more.
This new facility is already making an impact on faculty, students, and the community. This was showcased at the grand opening and seal-breaking ceremony as community members, students, faculty, staff, members of the UCA Board of Trustees, donors and Davis were all in attendance.
KATV anchor and UCA alumnus, Ryan Houston ’10 emceed the event which included opening remarks, musical performances by UCA Natural Slides Trombone Ensemble, UCA Bear Marching Band drumline and members of UCA Bear Marching Band’s brass ensemble. They played a piece by Dr. Gail Robertson specially commissioned for the grand opening, “Gateway Fanfare,” before the breaking of the Windgate Seal.
Following the musical performance, Davis, using a gold-colored mallet made just for the event, broke the seal created by Bryan Massey Sr., chair of the Department of Art and Design. All in attendance were then welcomed to enter the new building to experience more than 30 activities and performances from more than 120 artists.
From guests making their own art, to tasting some of the area’s best food and beverage offerings, this unique and historic grand opening was like no other as it highlighted some of the amazing spaces in this facility.
“I’m thrilled that so many people entered the Windgate Center, where the architecture, design, and events inside will inspire students, faculty, and visitors to create objects of equal magic and majesty,” said Dr. Thomas Williams, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
UCA student, Windgate Scholar and senior ceramics major, Anna Sharp related her experience with the new studio spaces during her remarks at the grand opening ceremony, “I have held a studio space here for the past year and I cannot express how much of a difference it has made in my life. The facilities are amazing. There are projects that I have fulfilled in this facility that I would not have been able to do in the other building. This building – it’s amazing, and it only reminds me of the generosity of the Windgate Foundation and how much they have done for me.”
Amanda Horton, UCA’s executive director of Public Appearances, summarized the historic event. “The grand opening was a true reflection of the purpose of the venue; arts education, promotion, and collaboration. Community, students, faculty and staff came together to celebrate and enjoy the arts which will be taught, presented, and fostered in the Windgate Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.”