Thanks so much for this blog post and for supporting Greenbelt’s effort to win preservation funds through the Partners in Preservation program. We are up against some very high profile historic sites, so we need all the help we can get.
We are realistic, though, and (barring a miracle) don’t expect to win the competition, per se. According to the Partners in Preservatin website, “The historic place that has the most points at the end of the voting period will receive a grant for up to $100,000. The remaining funds will be distributed to the rest of the participating historic places based on a recommendation from an advisory committee of area community leaders.” So a strong show of communty support really matters! The hope is to use any grant money to install a digital projector, upgrade the restroom facilities, improve accessibility, and restore the interior – those are the highlights, anyway. I have not seen the complete plans. The theatre is owned by the City of Greenbelt, so hopefully, it will continue to operate for years to come.
The theater is beloved by the community, hosts the Utopian Film Festival each year and shows some films at least that wouldn’t be shown at the Academy 8.
Thanks so much for this blog post and for supporting Greenbelt’s effort to win preservation funds through the Partners in Preservation program. We are up against some very high profile historic sites, so we need all the help we can get.
We are realistic, though, and (barring a miracle) don’t expect to win the competition, per se. According to the Partners in Preservatin website, “The historic place that has the most points at the end of the voting period will receive a grant for up to $100,000. The remaining funds will be distributed to the rest of the participating historic places based on a recommendation from an advisory committee of area community leaders.” So a strong show of communty support really matters! The hope is to use any grant money to install a digital projector, upgrade the restroom facilities, improve accessibility, and restore the interior – those are the highlights, anyway. I have not seen the complete plans. The theatre is owned by the City of Greenbelt, so hopefully, it will continue to operate for years to come.
The theater is beloved by the community, hosts the Utopian Film Festival each year and shows some films at least that wouldn’t be shown at the Academy 8.