By Emily Anderson
NASHVILLE,
Tenn.
- The Belcourt Theatre in Nashville plans to temporarily shut its doors on Dec.
25, 2015 for an expected five-month renovation project.
The Belcourt Campaign was started around early
September of this year to raise funds to renovate the 90-year-old building. The
goal of the campaign is to reach $4.5 million from gifts given to the theatre,
as well as contributions from pledges. These funds will be used for
campaign costs, equipment and furnishings for the new theatre and construction
fees. So far, a little over $3 million have been collected.
The Belcourt is a widely admired
theater in the Hillsboro Village area of Tennessee’s ever-growing state
capital. It first opened in 1925 and re-opened in 1999 as a non-profit institution.
The theatre provides the community with a wide variety of independent and
classic films. The building, while aesthetically pleasing, is too small for the
theatre’s popularity and is in need of refurbishment.
The blueprints for the renovation
show larger theatres with new screens and improved sound systems to enhance the
audience’s experience. The entrance and ticket booth are expected to be more
accessible for patrons that require mobility devices. Bathrooms will also be
made larger and more accommodating to movie-goers. A second-floor is also to be
added, which will include a classroom for film education, as well as gathering
rooms for pre- and post-screenings.
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| Image provided by The Belcourt Campaign |
According to Brooke Bernard, the development
director at The Belcourt, the renovation is too complex for the theatre to stay
open during construction time, as there are no original blueprints available.
The campaign has hired Tuck-Hinton Architects and R.C. Mathews Contractor to do
the construction. These businesses have “planned the most effective, efficient
construction schedule” for the renovation. Bernard says the building is
expected to stay closed from January 2015 to June 2015, but the theatre is
working with local businesses to show screenings when they are able.
Patrons still have a few weeks to
enjoy the selection of films offered at The Belcourt Theatre. “Reservoir Dogs”
is scheduled to play two days in a row at midnight after Thanksgiving weekend.
More festive films like “Gremlins” and “Die Hard” are scheduled to play in
December prior to the theatre’s renovation.
For more information on the
renovation of The Belcourt Theatre, ways to donate, and a calendar of showings,
visit www.belcourt.org.
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