From staff reports

Canterbury School in Fort Wayne plans a new Fine Arts Center next to Canterbury High School at 3210 Smith Road, Fort Wayne.

The celebratory groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. May 8. Rain date is May 9 at 1:30 p.m.

The board of trustees of Canterbury School, 3201 Covington Road, voted unanimously to proceed with construction of the 18,000-square-foot facility.

“We are excited to move forward with this project, which will advance Canterbury School’s strategic goals and long-term vision,” said David Jackson, Canterbury School head of school. “The building will bring both the visual and performing arts to life, while also enhancing opportunities to build community.”

In a statement, Canterbury said the Fine Arts Center will serve as the hub for The Academy of the Arts at Canterbury, “which was launched in 2020 with the promise to strengthen a founding pillar of Canterbury School: a robust and dynamic education in the arts.” The Canterbury Fine Arts Center will feature an art gallery, black box theater, recording studio and podcasting center, 2D and 3D visual art classrooms, a digital photography lab, and classrooms for band, choir and orchestra, in addition to performance and reception spaces.

Construction on the facility will begin in June with a goal of opening in August 2024. Visit www.canterburyschool.org to see floor plans and architectural renderings of the school.

Canterbury School thanked the Surack Family Foundation and The James Foundation, “whose transformational gifts have led the way to make this facility a reality,” as well as others who have donated to this project.

Canterbury is an independent, college preparatory school.