Since 1878, the Brenau historic Gainesville campus has been a fixture in the North Georgia community. This campus is home to most programs for The Women’s College and coeducational undergraduate school, and offers some graduate programs. The picturesque front lawn of the university frames Brenau’s Pearce Auditorium, a 700-seat 19th-century opera house that serves as performance venue, as well as the central place for the university to come together for celebratory moments, including winter graduation ceremonies.
In addition to Pearce Auditorium, Brenau’s Hosch Theatre resides on the historic Gainesville campus. Behind the striking stained glass window of the John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts, the Hosch Theatre hosts dozens of music, dance and theatrical productions every year and serves as an artistic space for Brenau students and community members.
The historic Gainesville campus contains most of Brenau’s Permanent Art Collection, and features several gallery spaces. Inside the Burd Center is the Leo Castelli Art Gallery, which is named after one of the greatest art dealers of the 20th century. The Simmons Visual Arts Center building includes the Sellers Gallery and the President’s Gallery, as well as classroom and lab spaces for students in the Center for the Arts & Design. Brenau hosts several exhibitions each year, often holding discussions with the artists themselves.
Brenau’s residential students call the historic Gainesville campus home, living in one of our residence halls or sorority houses. To our students, these spaces are more than a place to sleep. They’re a supportive environment where students can study, relax and make lasting memories with their peers.