The University of Georgia will honor former UGA President Charles Knapp and his wife, Lynne Knapp, by naming the facility the Charles and Lynne Knapp Performing Arts Center. The naming recognizes a significant gift from the Knapps to support the future of music and the performing arts at UGA, as well as decades of philanthropy, leadership and service to the university.

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved the naming request on Oct. 7 during a meeting on UGA’s campus. A dedication event will be held later this fall to recognize the Knapps’ generosity.

The naming is made possible by a generous gift from the Knapps benefiting the Charles and Lynne Knapp Endowment for Music Performance and the Performing Arts Center Facility Support Fund. Their investment will allow the center to bring professional musicians to UGA for performances, mentoring and networking opportunities, while also allowing the center to undergo renovations to modernize and update the facility.

In addition to this gift, the Knapps have supported many areas of campus, including the Terry College of Business and the School of Medicine.

“Charles and Lynne Knapp’s longstanding support of the University of Georgia continues to have a profound impact on our institution,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “We are deeply grateful for their latest gift that will strengthen UGA’s standing as an arts and culture destination, and it is an honor to recognize the Knapp’s years of service and commitment to the university.”

As UGA’s 20th president from 1987 to 1997, Charles Knapp led the university through a transformative period marked by significant campus expansion and modernization. Recognizing the need for updated facilities, he prioritized investments in academic, research and arts infrastructure, helping launch a decade of extraordinary growth across campus.

“Dr. Knapp has always championed the importance of our donors as an integral part of UGA’s future,” said Jill Walton, vice president for development and alumni relations. “We are so thrilled to honor his and Lynne’s philanthropic legacy on campus with this naming.”

One of the defining achievements of Knapp’s presidency was the development of the $34 million Performing and Visual Arts Complex that established a new home for the arts at UGA and created a cultural destination for the campus, Athens community and state of Georgia.

“Lynne and I are deeply honored that the university has chosen to recognize us in this way,” Charles Knapp said. “Early in my presidency, I determined that the construction of a best-in-class Performing Arts Center was essential to the balanced development of the University of Georgia as one of the nation’s great public universities. Lynne was my steadfast partner in this endeavor and, along with the hard work of many other people, we were able to make it happen.”

The naming of the Charles and Lynne Knapp Performing Arts Center is particularly meaningful given the Knapps’ longstanding support of the performing and visual arts at UGA. The programs and facilities they helped envision continue to enrich the university and the broader community today.

“The Knapps have made an immeasurably positive impact on the arts at UGA and throughout our community,” said Jeffrey Martin, director of the Charles and Lynne Knapp Performing Arts Center, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in early 2026. “Their generosity has enabled generations of guest artists, students, faculty and community members to experience world-class music as an integral part of life at UGA.”

Throughout his career, Charles Knapp has been recognized for advancing higher education through strategic leadership, philanthropy and institutional growth. Lynne Knapp, a professional architect, has also demonstrated a strong commitment to education and student success. Together, they have remained dedicated advocates and supporters of the University of Georgia and its mission.

“Over the past 30 years, this building has become a centerpiece of our campus, bringing the world’s greatest performing artists to Athens and fostering creativity and community at our university,” Charles Knapp said. “To help maintain this progress, Lynne and I have made the performing arts a focus of our giving to the university. It is our pleasure to provide this support.”