Wesleyan College unveils renovated amphitheater
The college celebrated the reopening of the Peyton T. Anderson, Jr. Amphitheater with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, Oct. 14.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Wesleyan College has unveiled a newly renovated amphitheater designed to enhance the student learning experience and create more opportunities for the Macon community to gather on campus.
The $590,000 renovation was made possible through a gift from the Peyton Anderson Foundation. Improvements include new seating, updated technology, enhanced lighting, new tables and other upgrades designed to make the space more versatile.
College leaders say the renovation will provide students and faculty with a more modern setting for lectures, presentations, academic programs and other campus activities.
“We have reopened our Peyton T Anderson Junior Amphitheater here at Wesleyan College, full renovation, new chairs, new lighting, new technology, and it’s open certainly for our students and our faculty and our staff, but it’s open to the community as well,” Wesleyan College President Meaghan Blight said.
Blight said the college wants community members to use and enjoy the space as Wesleyan looks for more ways to connect with people beyond campus.
The project also creates opportunities for local organizations and residents to gather at Wesleyan for events and discussions.
Provost Melody Blake said the foundation’s support made the transformation possible and will help the college provide a space where people can exchange ideas.
“The Peyton Anderson foundation has been so generous to Wesleyan and it’s because of their generosity that we were able to redo this room and make this amphitheater and the amphitheater really is a space where people can gather together to learn and to hear ideas and to discuss ideas and it was their generosity that allowed this to happen,” Blake said.
The Peyton Anderson Foundation has supported Wesleyan for decades. According to the college, the foundation has made 21 gifts and pledges totaling more than $5.9 million since its relationship with Wesleyan began in 1989.
Its support has helped fund academic programs, campus facilities, scholarships, the arts and student opportunities.
In a statement, Peyton Anderson Foundation President, CEO and Trustee Karen J. Lambert said the renovation will improve the experience for students and faculty while creating new possibilities for the broader Macon community.
As Wesleyan approaches its 190th anniversary, college leaders say the renovated amphitheater will serve future generations of students while helping bring more of the community onto campus.
