The Athens State University Board of Trustees has approved naming the Alabama Center for the Arts’ Performing Arts building the Arthur Orr Performing Arts Center, following approval by the Alabama Community College System.

State Sen. Arthur Orr, (R-Decatur), has played a role in the development and expansion of the Alabama Center for the Arts, including efforts to secure state funding for projects associated with the campus.

“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,” Athens State University President Catherine Wehlburg said.

“Senator Orr understands the vital role the arts play in education, workforce development, and community engagement, and we are proud to honor his legacy of support.”

The Arthur Orr Performing Arts Center serves as both an educational facility and a public performance venue on the Alabama Center for the Arts campus in downtown Decatur. The building includes a recording technology computer lab, recital hall, studio theatre, piano lab, and a scene shop for set construction.

Athens State University, founded in 1822, offers more than 50 undergraduate degree programs and graduate programs and focuses on transfer and returning students completing degrees.