A historic downtown Columbus church is getting a new life as a performing arts venue.
CAPA announced this week that the future music venue planned for the former Central Presbyterian Church building will officially be named Wrightsel Music Hall, thanks to a major naming gift from the Wrightsel Family Foundation.
Located at 132 S. Third St., the landmark church was originally constructed in 1859 and is one of the oldest remaining buildings in downtown Columbus. Under CAPA’s plans, the historic structure will be transformed into a modern mid-sized performance venue designed to support concerts, community programming, and live arts events.
“We are honored to be part of this transformative project,” Brent Wrightsel said in a statement. “Naming the venue Wrightsel Music Hall is a way to honor our family’s commitment to the arts and to support the incredible work CAPA does in our community.”
The project has been years in the making and represents one of the more ambitious historic preservation efforts currently underway downtown. According to CAPA President and CEO Chad Whittington, community support has played a major role in moving the project forward.
“The overwhelming support from our community has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life,” Whittington said. “This venue will be a testament to our shared commitment to the arts.”
Construction is expected to begin later this month, with demolition work inside the existing structure marking the next phase of redevelopment.
CAPA says the venue is currently on track to open in fall 2027.
Once complete, Wrightsel Music Hall is expected to help fill a growing need for mid-sized performance spaces in Columbus, offering another dedicated venue for concerts and arts programming in the downtown core.
The organization also noted that fundraising efforts are still ongoing, with support already coming from more than 250 families, corporations, foundations, and government partners.
