June 10, 2025
The Lead
Peabody Institute renovation, Musical Minds, and Why History Matters speaker seriesThe Peabody Institute of Archaeology has embarked on the final stage of its historic renovation project. The Peabody completed the collections housing revitalization for the 600,000-plus cultural items in its care; the new phase will address the institute’s ground and upper floors. While the footprint of the building will remain the same, the project will create optimal spaces for offices and programming. A dedicated consultation room will facilitate ongoing dialogue with Indigenous partners and reaffirm the Peabody’s commitment to repatriation. Finally, the number of classrooms will grow from two to four, expanding the institute’s capacity to offer interdisciplinary courses, events with Native American artists, and culturally rich offerings for both Andover and the wider community.
The aim is for these dynamic new resources to open in fall 2026. To date, Andover supporters have given $4.4 million to this endeavor, with multiple donor recognition opportunities still available.
Interested? Please email Director for Advancement Initiatives Jennifer Pieroni P’28.
Main image: The Peabody Institute’s Schmertzler Family Gallery will be an interactive learning lab, located on the second floor in close proximity to the director and curatorial team. Rendering by DBVW Architects.
Andover will debut the Musical Minds Summer Institute this July at Falls Music Center. Designed for rising 7th and 8th graders, the pilot program will welcome students from around the world to advance their musical study while forming lasting bonds of friendship and artistry. Students will learn from expert educators and train with visiting performers during the five-week residential experience, culminating in the creation of a 24-piece orchestra. Alumni and parent donors, along with local partners, are seeking fellow benefactors to make possible need-based financial aid to qualifying students.
For more, visit andover.edu/musicalminds.
Andover’s commitment to intellectual agility remains strong with pursuits like the Why History Matters speaker series. The lectures are funded by Jim Taylor ’56, who wishes to ensure lively debates on campus by drawing past lessons into present discussions. Speakers have included Katherine Chaddock, distinguished professor emerita at the University of South Carolina, who wrote a biography of Richard T. Greener, PA Class of 1865, one of America’s trailblazing advocates for racial equality. This year, the history department invited Aziz Rana of Boston College Law School, who examined the modern emergence of constitutional veneration and how it continues to shape politics today.
Donors who wish to similarly contribute to Andover’s scholastic life may contact Director of Academy Advancement Nicole Cherubini.
Categories: Philanthropy
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