Longwood grant to help fund Cinema Art Theater renovations

June 30, 2024 2

The Rehoboth Beach Film Society recently received a Longwood Foundation grant for its Cinema Art Theater renovation project.

The society has been working to raise additional funding to support its 2023 projection equipment upgrades. The FY25 funding will focus on the projection room to include controlled air space for its heat-generating projector and other related projection system equipment. The board and leadership invested $85,000 in upgrades to replace the theater’s used and obsolete projection equipment. The project paid for a new D-Cinema projector and other digital upgrades for high-speed downloads and clearer picture quality on the big screen. The Longwood Foundation grant funding will also support a much-needed front façade replacement and the build-out of a two-story loft to enclose the new projector.

Also during 2023, RBFS successfully received individual donations to support the installation of two satellite dishes on its rooftop to accommodate screening live premieres of The Metropolitan Opera performances at its Cinema Art Theater beginning this fall. Other enhancements planned for the fall include a much-needed sound system upgrade to Dolby 7.1 with a total of six speakers for optimum surround sound experience.

“The society understands the value of a vibrant arts and culture community, and these continued investments will directly benefit our burgeoning population that is exploding here in Sussex County,” said Helen Chamberlin, executive director.

In earlier years, the society screened The Met Live premieres at Cape Henlopen High School, which was well received by the community. As part of the 2024 fundraising campaign, the society wanted to return to this format and has affectionately dubbed the project Little Met by the Sea. Learn more at rehobothfilm.com.