Following a complete interior renovation, Brinkley Hall debuted in the fall of 2017 as the home of the Viar-Christ Center of the Arts, a state-of-the-art facility for students studying music or visual arts. Viar-Christ features elegant studios, labs, and performance spaces, in addition to an outdoor classroom. It  also has a completely new heating and ventilation system, acoustically treated spaces, restrooms, and an elevator. Facilities for the theater program are housed across Via Sacra in Johns Auditorium.

Generously funded by Joe Viar '63 and Bonnie Christ, the Brinkley Hall renovation was an opportunity to help preserve one of the College's most iconic buildings. "Winston Hall was the dining hall when I was there, and I've always loved the architecture of the building," he explains. Both Viar and Christ love the performing arts, so funding the Viar-Christ Center for the Arts was a natural fit.

  • Formerly Winston Hall, the newly renovated Brinkley Hall

    Formerly Winston Hall, the newly renovated building is now called Brinkley Hall and houses the Viar-Christ Center for the Arts.

  • Library stacks facilities in the Viar-Christ Center for the Arts

    Library stacks facilities in the Viar-Christ Center for the Arts

  • Professor von Rueden at a practice piano in the choral hall with a student

    Professor von Rueden and a piano student in the rehearsal hall

  • Stairwell view of the rehearsal hall in The Viar-Christ Center for the Arts

    Stairwell view of the rehearsal hall in The Viar-Christ Center for the Arts

  • Professor Fox and photography student in the photography studio

    Professor Fox with a student in the photography studio

  • Music practice room in the The Viar-Christ Center for the Arts

    Music practice room in the The Viar-Christ Center for the Arts

  • "Good Men, Fine Arts" in the The Viar-Christ Center for the Arts

    Fine Arts make Good Men at Hampden-Sydney College

Facilities

GROUND FLOOR

  • Student Lounge
  • Digital Keyboard Laboratorywith Clavinova/iMac stations
  • Seminar Classroom
  • Lecture Classroom
  • Music Workshop
  • Choral Library
  • Three practice rooms
  • Instrument storage lockers
  • Administrative and faculty offices and breakroom
  • eight pianos in classrooms, offices, and practice spaces

MAIN FLOOR

  • Choral rehearsal and lecture space
  • Painting Studio
  • Design Studio
  • Drawing Studio
  • Gallery
  • Faculty offices and art handling

TOP FLOOR

  • Mac Lab with Photoshop CC,Epson printers, and scanners
  • "Wet" photography darkroom with multiple format Beseler enlargers, film changing rooms, and film development room
  • Photography classroom and studiowith hot lights and strobes
  • Seminar and print and drawing storageand study (above main entrance)

The Gallery

The Gallery in the Viar-Christ Center for the Arts houses one major exhibition each semester of the academic year and supports the educational goals of the Visual Art program, the Fine Arts Department, and Hampden-Sydney College. Exhibitions include work of visiting artists, faculty, and students. Gallery size: 370 square feet

Music

While furnishing a rich and diverse exposure to the history and appreciation of the field, our music course offerings start at a basic level and work up to advanced courses in theory, composition, and performance.

Music

Visual Arts

Taught with an eye to developing an appreciation for the fine arts as well as to developing individual skills, studio courses include beginning and intermediate drawing, color and 2D design, portraiture, direct and indirect painting, and beginning and intermediate photography. 

Classes in art history buttress the Fine Arts, as well as Classics, Religon, and History programs.  

Visual Arts

On the map

Visit Brinkley Hall on the virtual campus map

Brinkley Hall