Theatre Renovation Grant Money

Indiana Freemasons' Hall Auditorium

Does your Masonic temple or Scottish Rite building have a theatre in it? Struggling with financing issues for renovation costs?

Consider the League of Historic American Theatres, or at least have a look at its website here. The League is an expanding group of more than 300 historic theatres in the U.S. and Canada, and provides a network of resources, a monthly magazine, and a private discussion forum for members. Membership starts as low as $300 a year for small theatre projects.

Have a look at an April 2010 article on theatre renovation grants on the E-How website, taken from an LHAT article:

MJ Murdock Charitable Trust
One of the areas of interest to the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust is arts and culture. The focus when awarding grants for this topic are projects that enrich a cultural environment. The Rialto Community Theater located in Deer Lodge, Montana, was awarded a $300,000 grant from the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust specifically to renovate the theater. Although the Trust's focus is not solely theater renovations, it is obvious that its priorities include this type of project. The Trust reports that about half of the grants and awards they make are given to capital improvement projects.

MJ Murdoch Charitable Trust
703 Broadway, Suite 710
Vancouver, WA 98660
360-694-8415


National Endowment For the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) includes assistance for theater renovations under their Design Arts Program. Its funding includes feasibility plans for adaptive reuse, restoration and renovation. Funding can also be obtained for theaters involved in the revitalization of cultural districts. Money is available for the planning of theater renovations but not actual construction materials and costs. Apply for grant money for historic preservation, urban and architectural studies and design planning through the NEA topic of "Design."

National Endowment for the Arts
1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C.20506-0001
202-682-5400
neh.gov


Save America's Treasures
Offered through the National Parks Service, the Save America's Treasures Grant Program includes theaters of historical significance. The program is a federal matching grant program designed to fund restoration projects across America. Matching programs require a two-part award---the grant funds a dollar amount and the theater project committee must locate a non-Federal match for funding. Theaters must have historical significance to qualify. See the National Park Service program details for further information on applying.

Historic Preservation Grants
National Park Service
1201 "Eye" Street NW (2256)
Washington, DC 20005
202-354-2020