STRENGTHEN GROW•EVOLVE
A collaboration between The Englert Theatre and FilmScene
Building the greatest small city for the arts in America.
Progress
Funding Level Required
Completed Funding secured Ensured at $5.5 million Ensured at $6.5 million
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
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
Additional funding 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 2020. 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.
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.
We seek to further this work with an arts education effort 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 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.
Donor Tiers
Every dollar matters
You can make a one-time contribution or a five-year pledge quickly and easily online right now.
Donations by check can be made out to “Strengthen Grow Evolve” and mailed c/o The Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240.
Your contribution will help us reach our ambitious goal. Thank you!
Name a seat
Leave a lasting legacy by naming a seat at FilmScene! Our new modern seating will be carefully selected for comfort, attractiveness and durability.
We are offering our community an opportunity to sponsor a seat at multiple levels that are meaningful and significant. Seat naming is available through a five-year pledge agreement, and your named seat will far outlive that commitment.
Thank you for supporting our campaign with a lasting commitment.
Named & Creative Giving
Legacy naming opportunities are available for major giving, including theater and room naming options. To discuss these exciting options, or for creative giving options including stock transfers, multi-year pledges, or to pledge by phone, please contact Taylor Leigh Jackson by phone at 319-519-6736, or by email at taylor@strengthen
Leadership
Staff Leadership
Andre Perry
Englert Executive Dir.
Katie Roche
Englert Development Dir.
Andrew Sherburne
FilmScene Interim Executive Dir.
Nina Lohman
Assoc. Development Dir.
Nolan Petersen
Development Associate
Mac Chuchra
Development Assistant
Claire Barrett
Marketing Coordinator
Stacia Rain
Design Coordinator
Campaign Co-Chairs
Dick & Joyce Summerwill (Honorary)
Wally & Karen Chappell (Honorary)
Amanda West
Nina Lohman
FilmScene Board of Directors
Hans House, Chair
Will Downing, Vice Chair
Jake Nelson, Secretary
Chris Ameling, Treasurer
Emma Barnum
Molly Bagnall
Danica Bird
Karen Chappell, Past Chair
Corey Creekmur
Evan Evans
Sal Goedken
David Gould
Tommy Haines
Adam Ingersoll
Uri Lessing
Nina Lohman
T.J. Dedeaux-Norris
Kembrew McLeod
Ryan O’Leary
Andre Perry
Sarah Russett
Anna Stone
Steven Ungar
Nick Westergaard
Lynn Weinstein
Englert Board of Directors
Andy Martin, President
Carl Brown, Vice President
Todd Fanning, Treasurer
Nick Bergus, Secretary
Amy Hospodarsky, Past President
JB Barnhouse
Rob Decker
Todd Fanning
Brad Johnson
Tim McDougall
Joe Moreland
Jessie Singerman
Elliott Sohn
Jason Wagner