The Robbins Village Theater received a $200,000 grant to help continue renovations.
The theater opened in 1946 and served as a movie theater until 1971 and then became a carpet store. In 2010, a grassroots nonprofit purchased the building to provide a place for the arts and community center.
The $200,000 funds will go toward the estimated cost of $800,000 – $1 million to open its doors. The organization previously received grants from the Small Town Economic Development Program, the McSwain Foundation, Biscoe Walmart, and private donations. They hope to continue receiving yearly grants from Biscoe Wal-Mart and the McSwain Foundation.
On Oct. 4, Rep. Neal Jackson and Sen. Tom McInnis presented a commemorative check to the board on behalf of the state. The grant was funded through the state budget.
The grant will help with phase three, the project’s final phase. “The $200,000 will get us pretty far toward our goal,” Lynn McDuffie, the president of the Robbins Village Theater Board, said.
The plan is to use the money for HVAC, bathrooms, permits, electrical, projection room and equipment, seating, stage, and lighting.
“There is additional space above the theater, but we need an elevator to be ADA-compliant. Those plans will come later down the road,” said McDuffie. “Our primary goal is to get the space open for use as soon as possible.”
The goal is to open the doors in 2025-26 if funding allows.
“The town and the board will continue to seek grants and look toward friends of the theater and the community to support through donations and fundraisers to complete the project,” said McDuffie.
McDuffie, Robbins Town Manager Clint Mack, Robbins Mayor Cam Dockery, town commissioners and other board members were also present to accept the commemorative check with funds arriving in the coming months.
“The Robbins Theater was an integral part of our community in the past, and we want to revive its social and artistic importance to our community, especially when you see the impressive artistic talent in our area, such as our North Moore Theater program and other production organizations throughout the county. We want to support all of it and rejoice in their success,” said Town Manager Clint Mack.
You can read an earlier article on the Robbins Village Theater here: https://sandhillssentinel.com/work-continues-on-robbins-village-theater-2/.
Feature photo: Town leaders and theater board members receive a commemorative check from the state. Photo Courtesy of the Town of Robbins.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Curtis Self.
