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The Fox Theatre Announces New Program, The Fox Theatre Institute
Organization will Assist with Restoration of Theatres and
Revitalization of Arts Communities throughout Georgia

(Atlanta, GA) June 24, 2008. Atlanta’s most dramatic cultural landmark, The Fabulous Fox Theatre, is introducing a new organization, The Fox Theatre Institute, which will provide guidance to other Georgia theatres on how to successfully preserve their theaters and assert their cultural significance in becoming economic drivers in their communities.

The Fox Theatre Institute will officially launch on July 18 in Atlanta at the League of Historic American Theatres  (LHAT) conference, “Thinking Outside the Fox”, which will celebrate the saving of The Fox Theatre and many other theatres across the state of Georgia and the United States. 

Through the first-ever comprehensive inventory, The Fox Theatre Institute discovered a record of 374 historic theaters in Georgia, though 114 were demolished between 1950 and the present. Currently, there are an estimated 260 historic theaters in Georgia. For the past year, The Fox Theatre Institute has been working closely with 15 of the remaining 260 historic theatres in cities around Georgia including; Brunswick, Canton, Rome, Dahlonega, Fitzgerald, Athens, Marietta, Americus, Calhoun, Thomaston, Augusta, Macon and Statesboro. The Institute will create individualized plans for progress that will directly assist the theatres with their needs including:  programming, preservation, community building, operations, and economic development. After the completion of the pilot program, The Institute will expand their services to other theatres that are seeking guidance.

“The Fox Theatre’s story of survival and success is the catalyst for this movement”, says Adina Alford, General Manager of The Fox Theatre. “We want to share the knowledge that successful restorations of historic theatres have the potential to inspire communities and positively effect their cultural landscape. It’s our goal to support communities in cities throughout Georgia and the southeast through the efforts of The Fox Theatre Institute.”

With tourism being the second largest industry in Georgia, bringing in $30 billion dollars annually, theatre and the arts is a huge contributor to local economies. Subsequently, The Fox Theatre Institute has partnered with The Georgia Tourism Foundation’s “Creative Economies” initiative to launch a professional development program that will provide valuable hands-on technical assistance to theatres to ensure economic sustainability.
 
According to Gilda Watters, Director of The Georgia Tourism Foundation, "We are delighted to partner with The Fox Theatre Institute to better serve Georgia's historic theatre community. It is a match made in heaven! Their mission aligns perfectly with the Ga. Tourism Foundation's efforts to facilitate public private partnerships that benefit the tourism industry.  Local theater leaders will learn preservation and theatre management from one of our state's, and our nation's, finest historic theaters."

Throughout The Fox Theatre’s dramatic history, it has stood the test of time as a landmark that symbolizes Atlanta’s vibrant past while adapting to modern times. Now, The Fox Theatre Institute wants to assist other theatres on their journey to create cultural centers that will foster and educate future generations on the vitality of historic theatres.
 
ABOUT The Fox Theatre
The Fox Theatre is owned and operated by Atlanta Landmark’s Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization.  Atlanta Landmarks is dedicated to preserving and successfully operating The Fox Theatre, establishing The Fox Theatre as a center for community enrichment and education in historic preservation and the performing arts.  The Fox Theatre Institute seeks to provide a viable model for linking communities and historic performing venues by providing successful preservation and operations expertise and experience.  For more information on The Fox Theatre, visit www.foxtheatre.org

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