The Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre recently received a $70,000 grant to help improve and maintain the historic theater.
The Kenworthy received the grant from M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. This organization has provided grants in the Pacific Northwest in five states — Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington since 1975.
In that time M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust had given more than $1 billion grants in total to nonprofit organizations across the Pacific Northwest.
According to their website, this organization “helps support community focused organizations at every level of their development through grants, enrichment, programming and other resources.”
Executive Director of the Kenworthy, Christine Gilmore, said the grant will be used to continue renovations that started in November, causing the theater to close for eight weeks, as well as enhance the audiences’ experience at the theater. Gilmore said the grant will allow them to continue to renovate, repair and upgrade the theater.
Gilmore said some of the renovations include upgrading the 20-year-old screen and the projector to make them more user friendly, putting in new ergonomic chairs and replacing carpet to something that is more historically and aesthetically accurate.
Gilmore said all upgrades and changes that are going to be made with the grant money are focused on maintaining and enhancing audience experience, safety and comfort during all of their events.
The Kenworthy provides a place to watch films and many other forms of entertainment like plays or documentary screenings. The Kenworthy also provides rental spaces for other groups or organizations. For example, recently Vandal Welcome rented out the space and used it to show a free screening of “Napoleon Dynamite” on Jan. 14.
“That partnership with the U of I, downtown Moscow and the Kenworthy is important in keeping the Kenworthy relevant for all who live here,” Gilmore said referring to the free movie showing.
The Kenworthy strives to provide a wide variety of entertainment that fits the desires of the people who live in Moscow. A full list of events and more information about the theater can be found on the Kenworthy’s website.
“We are here for the community and whatever the community asks for, we’re going to serve it,” Gilmore said.
Nicole Hindberg can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @HindbergNicole.