WINGATE — Wingate University students passing by the statue of Charles A. Cannon on the way to a music class or to one of the dozens of other events slated this semester at the George A. Batte, Jr. Fine Arts Center may not have a clue about the working relationship the two men shared at Cannon Mills. They will nonetheless hugely benefit from the philanthropy that continues as part of their legacies.
The Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trust No. One recently gave the University a $290,428 grant to replace the Batte’s HVAC chiller. The funding comes on the heels of a separate $750,000 Cannon Charitable Interests grant for state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment being installed in the 46,000-square-feet facility.
Giving from the Cannon Charitable Interests over the past 50 years totals nearly $39 million.
“As I reflect on Mr. Batte’s longtime partnership with Mr. Cannon, I am grateful for The Cannon Foundation’s deep-rooted relationship with Wingate University,” wrote President Rhett Brown in a recent letter thanking the Trustees of the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trust No. One.
Opened in 1999 and named for Batte, a longtime Cannon Mills executive and former vice president of The Cannon Foundation, the fine arts center includes the 550-seat McGee Theatre; the Plyler-Griffin Recital Hall, which seats 174; dressing rooms; multiple classrooms; a choral hall; student lounges; and other facilities. In addition to serving as the home of the University’s Department of Music, it’s where students and community members attend Lyceum lectures, concerts, ceremonies and more.
Although the 26-year-old structure still looks great, thanks in part to a $42,500 roof project funded by the Cannon Charitable Interests last year, its systems for sound, video and production support were outdated, prompting the University to apply for the grant to replace all the equipment to meet modern performance standards. Impact Technology of Concord was awarded the contract, and the project is underway and expected to be complete by the end of the month.
Dr. Jesse Wright Martin, Music Department chair, couldn’t be more thrilled about the upgrades. The new sound, video and production equipment is not only enhancing longtime music programs, but it has helped enable the University to offer a new music industry concentration. Work-study students in the music industry track will learn live streaming and recording-studio operations, among other skills.
“We’ve had potential students audition who were not classically trained musicians, and we haven’t always had a place for them,” Martin says. “Now we’re in a better position to be able to serve a wider range of students.”
Suzanne Philemon, The Cannon Foundation’s executive director, said the Cannon Charitable Interests look to support projects that will directly enhance the student experience.
“The Batte Center is integral to the experience of many students on Wingate’s campus,” Philemon says. “This space is also heavily used by the community. Ensuring the best systems are in place makes the space better for everyone.”
Making the space better also means keeping its air conditioner working and ensuring that instruments are in a climate-controlled environment, an unexpected challenge when a thermostat in the HVAC system went down and had to be replaced during commencement week in May. To extend the life of the HVAC system, the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trust No. One provided funding for a new chiller tower. Hoffman Mechanical is slated to install the chiller during fall break, when the work won’t disrupt classes and when the weather is cooler.
“I’m grateful to Bill and the Foundation’s board members for their ongoing support.” Brown says. “The Foundation’s willingness to come forward and provide additional funding during this unforeseen equipment malfunction demonstrates the Foundation’s commitment to the Bulldog community.”
