Giving Opportunities - Facilities Archives
Hylton Performing Arts Center
When the $44 million, 86,000-square-foot Hylton Performing Arts Center opens on Mason’s Prince William Campus in spring 2010, it will provide a state-of-the-art setting for major touring artists and local performers, giving an important economic boost to Prince William County and providing another impressive showcase for the performing arts at Mason.
A $5 million leadership commitment from the Cecil D. and Irene V. Hylton Foundation of Dale City, Virginia, helped provide the catalyst for breaking ground and gave the facility its name. In addition to providing some construction funding, the foundation’s gift created an endowment fund to ensure long-term operations.
In addition to the Hylton Foundation, a number of other private and corporate benefactors have supported the center.
Carol Merchant Kirby and Peter Kirby committed $1 million to the center. In honor of Carol’s family, the main performance space, a soaring European-style opera house, will be named Merchant Hall. Another longtime resident of the city, John O. Gregory, gave $750,000 to name the Gregory Family Theater, a 300-seat flexible seating theater, in memory of his wife, Angela, and son, Scott.
The Didlake Foundation, with a gift made possible from the estates of Mr. and Mrs. Roger J. Costello, will partner with the Hylton Center as well. The Didlake Grand Foyer will function as a “town square” for the facility, with the 10,000-square-foot space that holds up to 300 for a seated dinner. In addition, the Buchanan Partners Gallery will display artwork from local and regional artists.
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Your support is essential in building a strong future for George Mason University. While gifts to all areas of the university are needed and welcomed, there are a few areas where you as a donor can make a significant and immediate impact:
- Scholarship support for Mason students
- Faculty and staff excellence
- Maintaining and creating outstanding facilities
When you click below, you can designate your gift to the area that is most meaningful to you. Thank you for Supporting Mason!