Arts and Culture
Arts and Culture
There is no shortage of ways to enjoy the arts. W&L hosts more than 100 performances each year and is home to several museums and galleries. In town, Lexington supports a thriving artists’ community, while Lime Kiln Theater attracts performers from across the country in a fun outdoor setting.
The Lenfest Center for the Arts
Our performing arts majors are an enthusiastic bunch, but they're not exclusive. Performance ensembles and opportunities at W&L are open to the entire community, and it's not uncommon for our students to come to a rehearsal straight from an athletic practice or a lab. The Lenfest Center for the Arts hosts more than 175 performances each year, in addition to countless rehearsals and an ongoing schedule of classes, so there's always something going on.
Museum and Galleries
W&L is home to several museums and galleries, with exhibits presented throughout the year. Besides Lee Chapel, which was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961, our campus is also home to the Reeves Collection, the fourth-largest ceramics collection in the United States, and the Watson Pavilion, which houses an authentic Japanese Tea Room.
W&L boasts an impressive collection of art that is available not only for viewing purposes, but also for classroom use. Students use actual pieces of the collection in their lessons and studies, and they also attend exhibits that feature current art objects and visiting artists. The spaces and galleries of Wilson Hall showcase student work year-round. At W&L, there's never an empty wall.
Off Campus
The streets of Lexington are home to a number of great art galleries and live music venues. The First Fridays art walks are always worth a visit. Lexington's Lime Kiln Theater brings more great performances to Lexington each spring and summer in a fabulous outdoor setting, while venues in nearby Charlottesville and Roanoke regularly host big-name performers and acts on tour.
Is Shakespeare your thing? The American Shakespeare Center is just up the road in Staunton, Virginia. Its Blackfriars Playhouse, a re-creation of Shakespeare's original indoor Blackfriars Theatre, provides an authentic Elizabethan setting for the variety of performances it hosts throughout the year.