13 Jan IMPERIAL THEATRE RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE CSRA’s HURRICANE HELENE COMMUNITY CRISIS FUND
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Imperial Theatre in Augusta announced this week that it has received a grant from the Community Foundation for the CSRA’s Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund.
The Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund was established in the days following the storm to ensure local nonprofits had the resources needed not only for immediate response efforts, but also for the long-term recovery still underway across the CSRA.
The Imperial Theatre’s grant was awarded under the Infrastructure Needs category, which supports publicly accessible spaces that sustained damage resulting in a measurable negative economic impact on both the organization and the surrounding community. In the months following Hurricane Helene, the Imperial Theatre identified water intrusion that was later determined to be caused by damage to the building’s roof during Hurricane Helene.
Just prior to Hurricane Helene, the Imperial Theatre officially launched a $10 million capital campaign to fund a comprehensive five-phase renovation of the historic, 108-year-old venue. The storm-related roof damage caused repair needs that were not included in the original renovation scope, creating unexpected costs.
“As a 108-year-old landmark and anchor of Augusta’s downtown theatre district, the Imperial Theatre holds a special place in our community,” said Chip Matson, President of the Board of the Imperial Theatre. “This grant helps us continue the vital work of restoration and moves us closer to returning the Imperial to her original glory. We are sincerely grateful to the community members and businesses who contributed to this fund and to the Community Foundation for the CSRA for investing in the future of this historic venue.”
To learn more about the Imperial Theatre’s Capital Campaign, visit https://imperialtheatre.com/ or contact Charles Scavullo, Executive Director, at charles@imperialtheatre.com.
About Imperial Theatre
The Imperial Theatre in Augusta, Georgia opened in 1918 as a vaudeville showcase. Among the earliest recorded appearances was the visit of Charlie Chaplin, who appeared at the theatre on April 16, 1918, selling Liberty war bonds. As the downtown area declined in the 1980’s, so did the theatre which closed in 1981. In 1985, it was recognized for its architectural significance and reopened as a performing arts venue with the help of local performing arts groups such as The Colton Ballet and the Augusta Players.” Today, the Imperial Theatre is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and the only operating historic theatre in Augusta. It is noted in the National Register as critical to the character of the Broad Street Historic District. For more information about the Imperial Theatre or to view upcoming shows, please visit https://imperialtheatre.com/.