Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) has secured a $500,000 grant from Bank of America to advance its Music Hall project in Downtown Columbus. The funding will support CAPA’s plan to transform the former Central Presbyterian Church building, located at Third and Chapel streets, into a new performance venue.
CAPA President and CEO Chad Whittington described the grant as a key factor in returning the historic property to active use. He noted that the investment will help the organization create a venue designed to welcome both artists and audiences, with the goal of adding new energy to the downtown area.
Bank of America’s support is characterized as the largest strategic philanthropic investment the institution has made in the Central Ohio region. The scale of the commitment underscores both the importance of the Music Hall project to the local community and the growing regional emphasis on accessible, community-centered arts facilities.
The building, a landmark at 132 South Third Street, was originally constructed in 1859 and is one of the oldest structures in downtown Columbus. CAPA’s project will reimagine the former church as a state-of-the-art community arts space, while maintaining its historic presence within the urban core.
Construction on the Music Hall project is scheduled to begin in May 2026. The redevelopment timeline anticipates that the venue will open to the public in the fall of 2027, positioning the property for a new phase of cultural and community use after decades as a religious facility.
The initiative reflects a broader push to adapt historic buildings in downtown settings for contemporary cultural and community purposes. By pairing a legacy structure with upgraded performance infrastructure, the project aims to meet rising demand for flexible arts venues that can serve a wide range of programming and audiences.
As the project moves toward its start date, the grant provides a significant philanthropic foundation for CAPA’s vision for the property. The combination of a historic location, a defined construction schedule, and a substantial anchor grant positions the Music Hall to become a new focal point in Downtown Columbus’s cultural landscape once it opens.
