Sandy Springs officials have announced a $2.5 million gift in support of arts programming and education at the new Performing Arts Center at City Springs, and the naming of its main theater for the donor – Ken Byers, chairman of Byers Engineering Co., and his wife Trish.
The Sandy Springs Public Facilities Authority, of which Mayor Rusty Paul is chairman, on Dec. 5 approved a recommendation by the Sandy Springs Foundation to name the theater for its benefactors. The Byers’ donation will be paid out through 2026, and the Byers Theatre name will remain in place for 20 years.
The city is funding construction and is committed to operational support, Paul said, but it’s through the foundation and gifts, “such as the one from the Byers, that will support bringing wide and varied programming to Sandy Springs.”
Ken Byers, chairman of the foundation, said, “Programming such as musical theatre and ballet cannot operate on ticket sales alone. They need philanthropic support, and we are delighted to be a part of building that presence in Sandy Springs.”
The Performing Arts Center is expected to open next summer.
The Public Facilities Authority in November announced the availability of naming opportunities at City Springs. Officials have said requests considered based on the donor’s ties with the city, consistency with the values and standards of the city, and the significance of the donation.
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