Hopkins Center for the Arts

Hopkins Center for the Arts. Commonly known as "the Hop," it is a multi-disciplinary performing and visual arts center at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Designed by architect Wallace Harrison, a principal designer of the United Nations Headquarters and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, it opened in 1962 as one of the first such comprehensive arts centers integrated into a university campus in the United States. The center serves as a cultural hub for the college, the Upper Valley region, and visiting artists from around the world, presenting a wide array of music, theater, dance, and film.

History

The center was made possible by a major gift from Leonard B. Hopkins, a member of the Dartmouth College class of 1901, and his wife, Evelyn Hopkins. Its construction was part of a broader mid-century expansion of the college's campus and its commitment to the arts as central to a liberal arts education. Upon its opening in November 1962, it was hailed as a revolutionary model, consolidating previously scattered arts departments and performance spaces under one roof. The inaugural season featured performances by the New York City Ballet, the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy, and a production of Shakespeare's *The Tempest* by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Throughout its history, it has hosted legendary artists including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Ella Fitzgerald, Ravi Shankar, and Merce Cunningham.

Facilities and venues

The original building houses several distinct performance and rehearsal spaces. The Moore Theater is a 900-seat proscenium theater designed for drama, opera, and large-scale dance. The Spaulding Auditorium, a 900-seat concert hall, is renowned for its acoustics and hosts major musical performances. The Warner Bentley Theater is a flexible 180-seat black box theater used for experimental and student productions. The Center also includes the Jaffe-Friede Gallery and the Straus Gallery for visual art exhibitions, multiple rehearsal studios, the Sudikoff Laboratory for digital arts, and the Top of the Hop lounge. The adjacent Black Family Visual Arts Center, opened in 2012, expanded the campus's arts footprint.

Programming and artistic direction

Programming is curated by a professional staff and emphasizes a mix of world-class professional presentations and student-led work. The Hop presents a robust season of concerts spanning classical, jazz, world, and contemporary music, alongside touring theater and dance companies. It is the home of the Coast Jazz Festival and the long-running Hopkins Center Film series. The center also operates the Arts Ambassadors program and numerous community engagement initiatives. Notable past directors include Harold G. Whiteman and Lewis Crickard, with the artistic vision consistently supporting innovation, such as early performances by the Pilobolus dance company, which formed at Dartmouth College.

Academic integration and the Hopkins Center model

A defining characteristic is its deep integration with the academic mission of Dartmouth College. It houses the academic departments of Theater, Music, and Studio Art, and its stages and studios serve as classrooms. The "Hopkins Center model" refers to this philosophy of erasing boundaries between artistic practice, academic study, and professional presentation. Programs like the Senior Fellows and Undergraduate Fellows provide students with hands-on experience in arts management and production. This approach has influenced the design and operation of subsequent campus arts centers at institutions like Princeton University and the University of Richmond.

Renovation and expansion

After six decades of continuous use, the center underwent a significant renovation and expansion completed in 2023. The project, led by architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, preserved the architectural integrity of the original Wallace Harrison design while dramatically improving accessibility, technical capabilities, and community spaces. Key additions include the new East Pavilion entrance, a dedicated dance studio, the Oktavec video production studio, and the fully renovated Top of the Hop. The project was supported by a lead gift from the Larson Family Foundation and reinforces the center's role for the 21st century.

Category:Buildings and structures at Dartmouth College Category:Performing arts centers in New Hampshire Category:Art museums and galleries in New Hampshire Category:Music venues in New Hampshire Category:Theatres in New Hampshire