So many exciting things are happening right now as we prepare for year’s end. We’re working on both a Winter and Summer Screening Series (TBA); our first Film-in-The-Classroom pilot project is about to conclude; we’re awaiting the final go-ahead to clean the graffiti off the theater’s facade and complete some other safety maintenance work; and we are working with our architects to finalize design details. We expect to launch the search for a general contractor in March.
The Uptown continues to form new partnerships with local organizations, including Bloomingdale Aging in Place, which recently hosted a zoom with more than 100 members who eagerly listened to Ira Deutchman and Adeline Monzier talk about the project. They asked several key questions regarding the design and operation of the film center:
- Yes! The film center will be ADA compliant, with an elevator, accessible bathrooms, and accommodations for both hearing and visual impairment.
- Yes! The fifth theater–equipped with screen and approx. 40 flexible seats–will be made available to local nonprofit groups and education classes as well as for party rentals.
- Yes! We will be a membership-based film center.
Your Support Is Building a New Future for Arthouse Cinema on the UWS!
Fundraising for the build-out of the Uptown Film Center continues to be a major focus. This month is particularly critical to our efforts because we are applying for crucial City and State grants. We’ve been told in no uncertain terms that the money is there–but the City and State need to see continued support from our community, both in contributions, number of donors, and endorsements, to unlock those dollars. Receiving these grants would be a major leap forward in reaching our ultimate goal of $29M.
In answer to this time-sensitive call for support, we have received a number of major gifts–including a very generous repeat gift from the Klingenstein-Martell Foundation, as well as new leadership donations from the Great Hill Foundation, Ruth Nelson Family Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Ben Stiller & Christine Taylor, and several others. Significantly, our capital campaign has also brought in more than 100 new and repeat donors in just the last month, at every giving level of giving.
We are so thankful for all of you who have made donations to make this project turn from dream to reality! All gifts before the end of the year will be matched by a generous donor and are 100% tax deductible. See Ways to Donate.
We are thankful, too, for the enthusiastic endorsements we’ve received from our local electeds, who have been extraordinarily helpful at every step, as well as for letters of support from a wide variety of community partners, including SAG/AFTRA, Columbus/Amsterdam BID, the West 90th Neighborhood Assn., and PS 84.
All endorsement letters will be included in our grant application(s); names will appear on our website. If your group (or building) would like to write a letter of endorsement for the Uptown Film Center, we would be honored. Please email it as an attachment to beth@uptownfilm.org.
