“The Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts is a welcoming, accessible space for our community members. … So many times art happens behind closed doors and we want to change that, inviting everyone in.” — Vice President of Planning Brian Clark

Members of the Colby community shared their multidisciplinary visions for the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts in a virtual event March 9 hosted by Trustee Miguel Leff ’98, a major advocate of the arts at Colby. 

Central to the College’s goal of growing a robust arts ecosystem, the new Gordon Center, which was made possible by an incredible lead naming gift by Trustee Michael Gordon ’66, is poised to be an on-campus hub of collaboration and innovation. It will reshape Colby’s identity, making the arts and creativity a more central component of the Colby experience and of life in Waterville.

Vice President of Planning Brian Clark, Diamond Family Director of the Arts Teresa McKinney, and Associate Professor of Theater and Dance Jim Thurston spoke about the project’s progress, as well as the many enriching benefits it will bring to the Colby experience. 

Trustee Robert E. Diamond ’73, P’12, Jennifer Diamond P’12, and Charles Diamond ’12 named McKinney’s position in December 2019 to build a culture of creativity and innovation across disciplines and enhance the arts curriculum at Colby. McKinney, along with countless faculty and staff, are prepared to take arts and innovation to a whole new level with the addition of the Gordon Center.