Six years ago, a decision was made to build what is now the Wilkins Meeting House to include theater and dance, but not music and other arts. This reinforced a long-established trend to keep arts facilities decentralized. Up until recently, this tendency was born of economic necessity. For almost forty years, Slocumb Hall, which was originally built in 1810 as a livery stable and later was converted into the school's gymnasium, has been home to studio arts.
Increasingly, however, decisions to construct smaller arts facilities scattered across campus have included elective choice, symbolizing the integration of the arts within the curriculum, and within student life. Dance, which came into being with the opening of the Meeting House, is now a performance activity offered in the afternoon (on par with sports.)
Today, the extensive renovation of the stone chapel is underway for future use by Proctor's growing vocal ensembles and steel band.
The architectural charm of the facility will be retained, while a new, genuine slate roof will cover five inches of new insulation.
Tomorrow, construction begins on the new music facility dedicated to bands, instruction and a recording studio. And so the trend continues.
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