By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
The Athens State University Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to name the Alabama Center for the Arts’ Performing Arts building the Arthur Orr Performing Arts Center, recognizing the longtime state senator’s leadership and lasting impact on arts education and economic development in North Alabama.
The naming received final approval from the Alabama Community College System and honors Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, for his instrumental role in the creation, growth and expansion of the Alabama Center for the Arts (ACA), a joint initiative serving Athens State University and Calhoun Community College.
University leaders credit Orr with helping establish the ACA as a cornerstone of downtown Decatur’s redevelopment while consistently advocating for state funding to support its academic programs and facilities.
“Naming the Alabama Center for the Arts after Senator Arthur Orr is a fitting tribute to a leader whose continuous support for the arts, education, the Alabama Center for the Arts and Athens State University has helped shape a vibrant future for creative expression in our state,” said Athens State University President Dr. Catherine Wehlburg. “Senator Orr understands the vital role the arts play in education, workforce development and community engagement.”
Located on the ACA campus in downtown Decatur, the Arthur Orr Performing Arts Center serves as both an educational hub and a public performance venue. The state-of-the-art facility includes a recording technology computer lab, recital hall, studio theatre, piano lab equipped with Yamaha Clavinova digital pianos, and a scene shop for set construction.
Orr has represented Alabama Senate District 3 since 2006 and currently serves as chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee. His legislative priorities have long focused on education funding and workforce development, areas university officials say align closely with the mission of the Alabama Center for the Arts.
Athens State University, founded in 1822, is Alabama’s oldest institution of higher learning and primarily serves transfer students and adult learners seeking degree completion. University leaders say the newly named Arthur Orr Performing Arts Center will continue advancing arts education, strengthening the regional workforce and expanding cultural opportunities for the community.