where the heart is

When a theatre can
connect a community
to more than culture

More than a
place to gather…

 

Theatres can bring individuals together in the most unexpected ways—crossing generations, races, religious affiliations, gender, and socio-economic boundaries unlike any other gathering places in a community. Individuals share their love of a performance and suddenly find themselves sitting next to a kindred spirit. It is a type of magic that inspires and connects us all and it can joyfully spread throughout a community. 

Our goal is not to just preserve the bricks and mortar of an historic theatre, but to expand access to the arts and strengthen the ties that bring a community together. Restoring a theatre yields more than just giving arts and culture back to a community. It can impact the economy, education, recreation, future community planning, and even more hopefully, it supports pride and unity.

 

Economic Impact

 

Restoring a historic theatre brings more than just culture to towns and cities. The actions of stewardship help revitalize a main street or downtown area. In many cases when a theatre reopens, it brings economic revitalization. Restaurants, shops, galleries, and many other needed services are strengthened as residents discover and return to their own downtown. Additionally, businesses often see an uptick in profits from new visitors coming in from surrounding areas with a new purpose to visit for a concert, dance performance, or play.

 
 
 

Right: Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls visits a local shop in downtown Dahlonega, Georgia, a community she supports with an annual concert to benefit the Holly Community Theater 

Economic impact
from the theatre
to local businesses

A theatre can help
cultivate culture
through education

Education

 
Fox in a Box goes directly into metro-Atlanta schools, both public and private, giving children an interactive experience that demonstrates how the history of the Fox Theatre is intertwined with pivotal moments of American history; particularly the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Additionally, Fox in a Box introduces children to the importance of historic preservation both at the Fox Theatre and at their own local theatres and in their unique communities. Beyond Fox in a Box, when a community theatre reopens, children often find a new creative outlet for their interests and talents. Whether they have a love of acting, singing, writing, or designing, they will often find an opportunity to explore their newfound talents through camps and internships. Our Georgia Presenters program also brings professional artists to hometown theatres, providing access to performances at the local level.
 
 
 
Left: Children rehearse to perform “The Music Man” following a week-long theatre camp at the Holly Theater in Dahlonega, Georgia
 

Community

 

In the past, numerous historic theatres often only offered culture to a limited segment of their population. 60 or 80 years ago perhaps only the wealthy or white residents before desegregation had an opportunity to see the newest movie or musical. Today, we know that all theatres have an opportunity to bring diverse audiences together in a rare way without boundaries. As we work with theatres across Georgia, as well as throughout the southeast, we are not only supporting the vision of a rehabilitated building with superior capacity to entertain, but with greater ability to attract a more diverse audience and ensure they celebrate all. 

 
 
 

Right: Members of the Grove Park Community in Atlanta and the Fox Theatre Institute team gather at the Grove Park Theatre viewing renderings for their upcoming theatre rehabilitation

 

A theatre community
can evolve to truly
reflect the community