The Fox Theatre Institute proudly announces their 2018-19 recipients of the historic preservation, urgent/emergency fund, historic structure studies or planning grants have been awarded to 13 historic venues. With more than 20 applications received, 13 were selected to receive financial assistance with $479,465 set to be distributed among these recent awardees.

FTI Preservation Grant Recipients
The Preservation Grant, also known as the ‘brick-and-mortar’ grant, is an annual basis grant awarded to assist theaters in completing projects.

Academy Theatre (Hapeville, GA), Amount to receive: $25,000 – This grant to the Academy Theatre will help purchase a main theater drape, theater seats, LED lighting and important sound equipment. Located in downtown Hapeville, the Academy Theatre is an ongoing supporter of the city’s downtown and economic development.

Grove Theatre (Atlanta, GA), Amount to receive: $100,000 – The Grove Theater is part of the development project of the Grove Park Foundation in the City of Atlanta. This is the largest grant FTI has given to date for a rehabilitation project statewide and will support the theater’s necessary roof replacement and masonry repairs.

Habersham Community Theatre (Clarkesville, GA), Amount to receive: $48,400 – Partners at the Habersham Community Theatre will use FTI grant funding for a project that includes the stabilization of the façade of the building and exterior repair, a potential beam installation and historic brick and stucco repair.

Waycross Area Community Theatre (Waycross, GA), Amount to receive: $19,625 – The Waycross Area Community Theatre is receiving their matching FTI grant funding to repair its HVAC equipment. Over the last several years, the Waycross Area Community Theatre has worked to raise money to refurnish the over 100-year-old Ritz Theatre.

Royal Theatre (Hogansville, GA), Amount to receive: $51,250 – The Royal Theatre will utilize grant funding to support a project that includes architecture plans and specifications for the ongoing rehabilitation of the Royal Theatre as a present day working theatre and no longer a City Hall. The Royal Theatre received an FTI Historic Structures Studies or Planning Grant in 2017-18.

The Plaza Theatre Arts Center (Eatonton, GA), Amount to receive: $66,400 – FTI is supporting the Plaza Theatre Arts Center’s project to preserve the exterior façade of the theatre with the preservation construction priority of the installation of steel transfer beam. This is the first grant FTI has awarded in Eatonton.

Warrenton Cultural Center (Warrenton, GA), Amount to receive: $17,600 - The Warrenton Cultural Center is receiving FTI funding to support the repair and replacement as needed for the roof of the cultural center. Since 2010, the building has served as the home for the Area Children’s Theatre, Inc. and as a venue for other community events and private parties.

Winterville Auditorium (Warrenton, GA), Amount to receive: $47,500 – The Winterville Auditorium received an FTI Preservation Grant last year, and FTI is providing additional funding for the installation of a soundproof wall with sound and lighting booth equipment for the historic building.

FTI Historic Structures Studies or Planning Grant Recipients

Recipients awarded the Periodic Technical Assistance and Services Grant will receive support of the completion of a historic structure study or planning. FTI will additionally provide guidance on the study, planning the implementation process and how to secure expertise.

Holly Theatre (Dahlonega, GA), Amount to receive: $6,600 – A previous FTI Preservation Grant recipient to restore their marquee sign, the Holly Theatre will undertake a project to study structural areas of the stage and supporting backstage areas.

Imperial Theatre (Augusta, GA), Amount to receive: $15,000 – The Imperial Theatre received an FTI Preservation Grant last year and this grant cycle, FTI will fund the theatre’s project that includes schematic plans and drawings to provide the scope for continuing preservation work.

Sara O’Kelly Municipal Auditorium (Grantville, GA), Amount to receive: $32,190 – The Sara O’Kelly Municipal Auditorium will receive funding for professional consulting and to plan for the rehabilitation and restoration of their historic auditorium. This is the first grant ever awarded to the City of Grantville.
FTI Urgent/Emergency Grant Recipients

Theatre Macon (Macon, GA), Amount to receive: $25,000 – Since 1991, Theatre Macon has operated out of the historic Ritz Movie Theatre in downtown Macon. This FTI grant award will help fund their building’s desperately needed roof repair.

Elba Theatre (Elba, AL), Amount to receive: $25,000 – The Elba Theatre in Elba, Alabama is the first out-of-state theatre to be awarded funds. Funds will be utilized toward the overall cost of roof repair and provide as a portion to the funding received through the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

As part of its ongoing commitment to Georgia’s historic theaters, the 2018-19 FTI grant program seeks to provide significant economic and cultural impact to local communities across the state, as well as considering partnership funds in Alabama. FTI’s Preservation Grant Program and Historic Preservation Services to date supported 47 projects totaling more than $1,370,800 in maintenance and physical improvement efforts over the past nine years. FTI is part of the nonprofit’s overall strategic plan to further increase its impact and outreach.

Adina Erwin, Vice President and COO of the Fox Theatre states, “It is particularly exciting in our tenth year of the Fox Theatre Institute to know that we are continually influencing both new and ongoing preservation projects in countless communities. It has been rewarding to see our reach increase from the Metro Atlanta area to our partners in the far reaches of our state. This year brings not only the introspection of where we started, but the excitement of celebrating our investment with outstanding partners who have made the journey with us.”

Since the launch of FTI in 2008, the Fox Theatre has committed more than $1 million to the overall program, including ‘Fox in a Box,’ a free interactive curriculum-based resource for area elementary schools; Georgia Presenters, an innovative statewide talent booking consortium; and as highlighted now with our Preservation Grants to encourage preservation of historic theatres with outside funding not readily available elsewhere.

“The geographical reach and sheer scope of these recipients and their impacted audiences encompasses the Fox Theatre Institute’s commitment to continually engaging new partners to fully maximize our organization’s financial support to other theaters throughout the region,” said Leigh Burns, Director for FTI.  “We feel equally fortunate to see the progression of some of our previous recipients as they move through the planning and study process toward actual brick-and-mortar rehabilitation efforts.”