After four years of unprecedented growth since its founding in 2015, the Tivoli Theatre Foundation has created a Recovery Fund designed to help support much needed work to maintain the historic facilities under the Tivoli Theatre Foundation's control, as well as enable the Tivoli Theatre Foundation to come out of the coronavirus pandemic ready to bring back performing arts and concerts to its stages.
In the four years prior to the shutdown in March, the Tivoli Theatre, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium and the Walker Theatre have seen an increase of over 900% in the number of shows annually, including successful Broadway shows, and hundreds of concerts every year.
"This closure has had an unprecedented impact on our organization, and the performing arts specifically," said Nick Wilkinson, executive director of the Tivoli Theatre Foundation.
"As rescheduled shows and events become canceled shows and events, the Tivoli Theatre Foundation has lost over $4 million dollars [in potential revenue] and we stand to lose millions more the longer this pandemic continues. We have some of the best patrons in the nation that have consistently supported our venues and organization for years, and now more than ever we need their continued support in order to keep the arts alive in Chattanooga."
Some donations come with perks for the giver. For example:
* $100 to replace a lightbulb in the historic Tivoli Marquee
* $200 to keep the water running at the theater for two weeks
* $500 that will help maintain the CDC's guidelines for safely reopening
* $1,000 to fund monthly maintenance of staging equipment
* $2,500 that will fund a Bobby Stone Film Series movie presentation upon reopening includes 4 tickets, 4 beverages, 4 popcorns when movies return to the Tivoli
* $5,000 to enable HVAC capabilities to preserve historic architectural details and paint
* $10,000 to help offset the utility costs required to properly maintain the historic Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium for one month. Gifts of over $10,000 will be recognized with a special message of your choosing on the Tivoli Marquee. Marquee message must be mutually agreed upon by the donor and The Tivoli Theatre Foundation.
* $15,000 will enable us to bring a Walker Theatre show back to the stage when we reopen includes 4 tickets and 4 beverages to a future Walker Theatre performance of your choosing. Patrons who wish to learn more or make a gift can visit www.tivolichattanooga.com/Recovery.
All donations will go toward a Friends of the Tivoli membership. Learn more at https://www.tivolichattanooga.com/recovery/