The Ogle Center Celebrates 30 Seasons of Arts, Culture, and Community

For 30 seasons, the Paul W. Ogle Cultural and Community Center at Indiana University Southeast has welcomed audiences to experience the power of live performance, visual art, education, and community connection.

Opened in March 1996, the Ogle Center was created as more than a campus performance facility. From its earliest planning, it was envisioned as a cultural gathering place for Southern Indiana and the greater Louisville region—a home for professional touring artists, university ensembles, theatre productions, lectures, civic events, and visual art.

Named for Southern Indiana philanthropist and Silgas founder Paul W. Ogle, the Center grew from a vision championed by IU Southeast Chancellor Leon Rand, whose leadership helped launch the fundraising effort in 1991. The Louisville Orchestra performed at the Center’s public opening, beginning a relationship that continues today through the Orchestra’s popular NightLites series.

Over the decades, the Ogle Center has hosted a wide range of nationally and internationally recognized artists and ensembles, from the Vienna Boys Choir, Judy Collins, Richard Marx, Riders in the Sky, Diane Schuur, Lee Greenwood, Frankie Avalon, and the Oak Ridge Boys to Canadian Brass, VOCES8, Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents, and many more. The Center has also served as a stage for notable public speakers, political debates, and community conversations, further establishing its role as a regional forum for culture and civic life.

Today, the Ogle Center includes the Richard K. Stem Concert Hall, Robinson Theater, Millicent and Norman Stiefler Recital Hall, the Ronald L. Barr Gallery, and the outdoor Caesars Foundation Amphitheater. The Center is also home to the IU Southeast Music and Theatre departments, whose student, faculty, and community performances are an essential part of the Ogle Center’s year-round programming. Visitors can also enjoy the James L. Russell Wonderland Way Art Collection, permanently displayed in the Ogle Center lobby.

The 2026–2027 season marks the Ogle Center’s 30th anniversary season and celebrates the full scope of its mission: bringing world-class performances to Southern Indiana while supporting the artistic life of Indiana University Southeast. The season includes the Ogle Center Presents series, Louisville Orchestra NightLites concerts, IU Southeast Theatre productions, and performances by IU Southeast music ensembles, including a special 30th anniversary concert featuring the IU Southeast Orchestra, Concert Choir, and Community Chorus.

As the Ogle Center looks back on three decades of memorable performances, generous community support, and shared experiences, it also looks ahead—to new artists, new audiences, and new opportunities to bring people together through the arts.

The Ogle Center’s 2026–2027 30th anniversary season is underwritten by Patty Cress, with season support from Caesars Foundation of Floyd County, the Ogle Foundation, and Indiana University Southeast.