With many theaters facing shutdowns around the world amidst pandemic concerns, art houses are at the most risk of permanent closures, but Janus Films and Criterion Collection have partnered up to establish The Art-House America Campaign relief fund to help support over 150 independent theaters across the states.
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The campaign was kick-started with an initial donation of $50,000 from the Criterion and Janus, and they are inviting friends of independent theaters and art houses everywhere to join them in this fundraising effort. The fund is being administered by the Art House Convergence, a nonprofit association dedicated to sustainability in a community-based, mission-driven media exhibition. The Art-House America Campaign aims to provide financial relief to struggling independent cinemas across the country so they can pay staff and their essential bills and survive until it is safe to reopen their doors.
The intention of this fund is to ensure that art houses are able to reopen when safe to do so. Funds are intended to support essential payments during the closure. Essential payments include those for payroll, insurance, rent, nondeferrable loans, utilities, fundraising, and mortgages. Funds cannot be used for equipment purchases, future programming, or executive compensation.
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Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis based on need, and funds will be distributed as soon as an application has been approved. To qualify, a theater must be a United States-based art-house motion picture exhibitor that operates year-round and has been open and operational for at least 6 months prior to COVID-19–related closures. It cannot be publicly traded or manage more than 4 separate theaters, and 75 percent of staff must be based in the metro area where the theater is located.
The campaign is slated to run for one month, ending April 30, but grants will be made on a rolling basis as soon as funds are available and applications are approved.
To donate to the campaign, visit their GoFundMe page here!
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