Latchis Arts is going for it! With nearly 80% of the funds raised so far, the non-profit group is committed to closing the main auditorium of the Latchis Theatre on August 1, in order to replace the seats and restore the historic zodiac ceiling, dubbed the Campaign for The Heavens and The Earth.
With only $118,000 to go out of the campaign goal of $550,000, “all the pieces are in place. There’s no turning back!” according to Managing Director Gail Nunziata.
“We have come this far with the generous support of our community. Now we would like to spread love for the Latchis far and wide,” she noted. In order to do this, Latchis Arts is launching a Kickstarter campaign with a goal raising of $50,000 in 60 days. “It’s a stretch, but with the help of our supporters and their networks, we’re sure we can do it,” Nunziata said.
Latchis Arts board member Thomas Bunnell agrees. “Crowd sourcing is a great new way to raise awareness and raise funds,” he said. “We have a video about the campaign that will be on the Kickstarter website, and it needs lots of hits to be successful.”
The campaign can be found by going to Kickstarter.com and keying in Latchis.
Shoring up the effort are significant grants and bequests from notable supporters such as the Thomas Thompson Trust, Kahn-Mason Foundation, Sen. Robert T. Gannett, the Windham Foundation, Vermont Arts Council, USDA Rural Development, Vermont Community Foundation and many businesses and individuals. “We are gratified by this support and the confidence it gives us to reach out even further, to spread the message of community and culture at the Latchis,” Nunziata said.
Giving people a decent place to sit is fundamental in a theatre. The seating is 75 years old, and shows the wear and tear of hundreds of thousands of people who have come to the theatre for vaudeville, movies and Live at the Latchis performances. And while seating on The Earth is a noble enough aspiration, the decorative zodiac ceiling, an art installation in the sky, will also receive a makeover while the theatre is closed. This portion of the project, The Heavens, is the focus of the Kickstarter effort. “It will dazzle us when it’s done!” said Nunziata, “A spectacular topping to this beautiful place.”
The plan is to empty the hall of seats, erect scaffolding, restore the ceiling, dismantle the scaffolding and install new chairs. A grand opening event with Ken Burns is planned for October 19. More about that to come.
Latchis Arts encourages everyone to visit www.kickstarter.com, search for Latchis, and be as generous as you can. Then share the link far and wide. “The bigger the crowd, the better the campaign,” noted Bunnell.
And attend two events before the main theatre closes for renovations: “Some Like It Hot,” a Latchis Arts movie-by-donation on July 25, and Rock the Latchis! a local band showcase on July 31.
For more information on events and the Campaign for The Heavens and The Earth contact Gail Nunziata at 802-254-1109 or gail@latchisarts.org. Visit latchis.com and latchisarts.org.
Contact:
Gail Nunziata, Managing Director 802.254.1109
Latchis Arts 50 Main Street Brattleboro VT 05301
Preserving the Latchis – Promoting the Arts
