STRENGTHEN GROW•EVOLVE
A collaboration between The Englert Theatre and FilmScene
Engaging the greatest small city for the arts in America.
1. The Dream
Sharing The Dream
April 2019
$2.7 Million Raised
Strengthen Grow Evolve—an ambitious joint capital campaign led by FilmScene and The Englert Theatre—is announced to the public is announced to the public at a celebratory event linking the historic Englert stage with FilmScene’s new theaters at The Chauncey. Over 500 people were in attendance to hear our dreams of Building the Greatest Small City for the Arts.
2. A New Landmark
The Chauncey Opens
September 2019
$4.0 Million Raised
A major element of our Grow initiative, FilmScene at The Chauncey opens with a three-day celebration including a donor lighting ceremony, the first public screening of Downtown Abbey, and a community-wide open house in partnership with more than a dozen local arts organizations.
3. Unity & Collaboration
Iowa City Downtown Arts Alliance Forms
March 2020
$4.5 Million Raised
Aligning with one of the key goals of the Evolve initiative, a consortium of eight nonprofit arts organizations in downtown Iowa City come together to form the Iowa City Downtown Arts Alliance and speak with a unified voice regarding the importance of the arts to a vibrant community.
4. Restoring an Icon
Englert Renovations Begin
May 2020
$4.6 Million Raised
The Englert Theatre, Iowa City’s century-old performing arts venue, began work to preserve and modernize this historic space. As the pillar of our Strengthen initiative, work included interior and exterior structural improvements, improved lighting and sound, a renovation of the second floor parlor, and restoration of the iconic Englert marquee.
5. Resiliency
Weathering the Storm
Summer 2020
$5.0 Million Raised
This summer brought a change of plans—for everyone on Earth. First, we addressed the economic fallout of the pandemic through PPP loans, operational reductions, grant awards (NEA, Mellon, Iowa Arts Council), and the unbelievable support of our Friends & Members. Then we continued to reckon with how our organizations could be better leaders in a country torn by racism and inequity for centuries. At once we fought to complete this campaign, save our organizations, and be better stewards of a just society.
6. $5.4 Million Raised
Fulfilling a Promise
New Years Eve 2020
$5.39 Million Raised
In order to finish the work, we raised $5.39 Million, to complete and pay for all of our preservation and expansion projects, continue our work with the Iowa City Downtown Arts Alliance, finish our arts access study, and raise crucial end-of-year funds that helped get FilmScene and the Englert through a difficult 2020.
7. The Work Continues
Realizing a Dream
Into the Future
$5.39 Million Raised
Our lasting success is dependent on taking continuing steps towards becoming the Greatest Small City for the Arts including executing our Arts Access Survey, funding a public cinema package for Chauncey Swan park, and launching our community engagement initiative. We’ve begun this work, but your continued support makes it possible to continue.
Progress on our Goals
Completed Funding secured Ongoing Work
Sustaining our Historic Spaces
We will strengthen FilmScene’s flagship Ped Mall location and modernize the historic Englert Theatre, sustaining our venues, improving audience experience and accessibility, and enhancing lighting, sound, and stage production to deliver that all important nightly, “wow.”
FilmScene Ped Mall Cinema Revitalization
FilmScene’s original home will be updated with:
New comfort seating in The Screening Room New cinema-style seating in Scene 1 Lobby improvements Maintaining modern presentation standards
Englert Historic Preservation & Modernization
These investments will ensure the long-term health of the 108-year-old Englert Theatre, an architectural gem whose lights are a beacon in the heart of downtown Iowa City:
Iconic marquee rehabilitation Building facade and brick repair Window restoration HVAC renovation Improved energy efficiency Roofing membrane Fire panel replacement 2nd floor renovation and parlor expansion Audio system upgrade (Only available above $6 Million)
Progress on our Goals
Completed Funding secured Ongoing Work
FilmScene at Chauncey
A new state-of-the-art three-screen facility at The Chauncey—in the heart of downtown—has become FilmScene’s landmark home.
Three new cinemas, seating over 225 moviegoers Flexible space for educational programming Programming expansion through increased showtimes, community partnerships, and films Cutting-edge picture and sound 35mm and 16mm film presentation Enhanced comfort and expanded food & drink
FilmScene’s share of additional funding above $6 million will be put towards ownership of the facility by FilmScene to ensure organizational stability and secure the future of film as an art form in Iowa City.
Festival Investments
With expanded cinema facilities, we will launch Refocus Film Festival in the fall of 2021. Pushing boundaries in multidiscplinary film exhibition and presenting films inspired by and adapted from other art forms, especially text, Refocus will be a unique film event for our City of Literature. Continued nurturing of the Englert’s two annual festivals: the literature and music mainstay Mission Creek Festival and Witching Hour, which explores the creative process.
Progress on our Goals
Completed Funding secured Ongoing Work
Our Dream
Every student in the Iowa City Community School District will engage a meaningful arts experience before graduation.
Arts Access Initiative
Our organizations have received support to research and improve arts access and engagement for school districts and communities throughout Johnson County.
Community Engagement Initiative
We seek to further this work with an arts education collaboration. Together, we will hire a Community Engagement Director, dedicated to fostering deeper artistic connections with our local K-12 schools, universities and colleges, neighborhoods, and the diverse cultures of our community and to expanding year-round arts education workshops and artist visits to our schools.
Allied Arts Initiative
The Englert and FilmScene will deepen important partnerships with the Bijou Film Board, SCOPE Productions, and other University of Iowa organizations.
We helped launch the Iowa City Downtown Arts Alliance and will expand our collaborative efforts, using this campaign as a case study, to work with a collective of local cultural nonprofits to share ideas and best practices, work together, and envision a collective future for our entire region, starting here in Iowa City.
Progress on our Goals
Completed Funding secured Ongoing Work