MACON – The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation recently presented the Tattnall Square Center for the Arts an award for Excellence in Rehabilitation. Scot Mann, director of Mercer Theatre, attended the April 22 ceremony in Marietta on behalf of Mercer University.
For more than 35 years, the trust has recognized preservation projects and individuals in the state who have made significant contributions to the field of historic preservation. Each year, the preservation awards ceremony is held during the weekend of The Georgia Trust Spring Ramble.
Awards are presented on the basis of the contributions of the person or project to the community and/or state and on compliance to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
Excellence in Rehabilitation awards recognize projects that make compatible use of a building through repair, alterations or additions while preserving features of the property that convey its historic value.
The historic church that has stood sentry for more than 100 years at the corner of Macon's College and Oglethorpe streets has experienced a renaissance to become Tattnall Square Center for the Arts.
The Center serves as a community theatre and arts venue, as well as home to the University's Theatre Department. Pews, carpet and remnants of a 1960s remodel have been removed to make way for a new multi-purpose arts space. Sunday School classrooms have been transformed into state-of-the-art teaching studios, a scenic shop with a two-story loft, costume shop and storage, and faculty offices.
The Center accommodates visual and performing arts, lectures, film screenings and workshops hosted by community arts organizations.
The Tattnall Square Center for the Arts is the first effort in an arts-rich community to create a space where performing arts, visual arts, education and film can all be presented in one space.
