The Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center centralizes into one dynamic building Hollins' already strong programs in studio art, art history, and film and photography. It is a comprehensive visual arts center, combining spacious studio art facilities with contemporary teaching facilities for art history, film, and photography.

The visual arts center also houses the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum, which has already been named a Museum Partner by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), a designation that will help bring world-class exhibitions and other arts programming to the campus, and the Roanoke community. The 58,000 square-foot center opened in August 2004 and was dedicated on October 16, 2004.

The Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center and Eleanor D. Wilson Museum are made possible largely through the generosity and vision of the late Eleanor D. "Siddy" Wilson '30. Miss Wilson gave $2.9 million to name the center for her grandfather, a well-known Philadelphia industrialist and civic leader at the turn of the 20th century. She also left Hollins $6.5 million for the project through her estate.

Building on Strength

• A thriving exhibition program that shows important works by artists of regional and national stature
• Lectures by well-known art historians
• Travel and study opportunities that allow students to explore periods of history through the great collections of the world
  

Expanded and New Programming

• The Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center makes Hollins one of the best photography facilities in the region, drawing prospective and current students to the film and photography major.
• It allows Hollins to develop a program in three-dimensional art (sculpture and ceramics) and strengthen the two-dimensional area with large, open painting and drawing studios.
• The Eleanor D. Wilson Museum is a partner with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The Wilson Museum galleries allow Hollins to bring historical works of art to campus to complement the university's outstanding program of contemporary art shows. In addition, Hollins now has room to develop its own permanent collection.
  

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