Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry announced on Monday, that the Tooga Theater has received a grant from the Atlanta-based Fox Theater Institute (FTI).  FTI was founded in 2008 in response to a statewide need for assistance with the restoration and operation of Georgia’s historic theatres. Since that time, the Fox Theatre has now awarded more than $1.8 million in financial support as well as shared its organizational experience with more than seventy other theatres.  You can read the press release about the $22,600 grant for the Tooga Theater below:

The Tooga Theater is pleased to announce the Fox Theatre Institute (FTI) has awarded The Tooga Theater with a $22,600 grant to restore the façade, windows and doors and to install the marquee. Atlanta-based FTI is the Fox Theatre’s dynamic outreach program offering historic preservation expertise, consultation, and educational programs to historic theatres in Georgia and the Southeast.

The Tooga Theater in historic downtown Summerville, GA has long been a centerpiece for cultural and community activities. The Tooga Theater is a cultural and historical asset to the citizens of Chattooga County. It will attract additional tourists, spur business growth and opportunities, and provide support for the existing local businesses.

“We fully support the County’s plan to restore The Tooga to its former beauty and function, to add a welcome center, and to create a versatile venue for the arts and events alike.” Tina Lee, Director of Chattooga Curtain Call

Once threatened and saved, the Fox Theatre Board of Directors and Staff created FTI to foster a strong sense of togetherness, responsiveness, and insight that remains visible through its ongoing work. FTI pays it forward by helping other arts and cultural institutions renew, reinvigorate, and restore artistic vitality to stimulate local economies.

“Well into our fourteenth year, FTI has worked tirelessly to support historic theaters throughout our state and the larger Southeast,” said Leigh Burns, FTI Director. “Now, more than ever we know our Georgia theatres need our financial and technical assistance to navigate a time where resources are limited or disrupted. We are thrilled to support the ongoing work of nine theatres this year for a total investment of $252,300. These funds help our passionate colleagues maintain the arts in their community in extremely unprecedented times.”

FTI’s Preservation Grant Program and Historic Preservation Services maintains an ongoing commitment to historic theaters and has supported over sixty projects since 2008, totaling more than $2.2 million in financial support for preservation and physical improvements. In addition to the grant program, the almost 50-year-old nonprofit organization manages Georgia Presenters, a statewide booking consortium, which helps spark collaboration among dozens of accomplished arts presenters.

“Our technical assistance and financial investment mean more to a community than ever before,” said Leigh Burns, FTI Director. “We want to help build a financial recovery for our state that remembers the arts as more than expression, but as a necessity.”