2019-681-E Arts - Chelsea Theater arts grant

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DocuSign Envelope ID:A8BFFD03-F94C-4EC5-9A3A-324A7D4890C4 Organization The Chelsea Theater is a nonprofit, 3-screen cinema (135, 115, and Description 85 seats). located in the Timberlyne Shopping Center on the north Side of Chapel Hill. Our mission is to promote the appreciation and understanding of film by presenting a mix of first run, independent, international, documentary, classic, and specialty films and offering special events, educational programs and community outreach. In operation as a nonprofit for just fourteen months, we have welcomed over 45,000 paying customers and signed up 1,116 member households. Our visitors come from throughout Orange County, with an emphasis on Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough areas; Durham and Chatham Counties; Burlington, Cary and Raleigh. Because of the originality of our offerings, visitors come from farther afield: As just one example, a family drove two and a half hours to see At Eternity's Gate, a film about Vincent van Gogh, on Christmas day. The Chelsea is open 365 days a year and offers two daily matinees Thursdays through Sundays as well as two evening shows daily. We provide assistive listening headphones with adjustable settings and adjustable closed captioning devices that fit into cup holders that present all the dialogue. We also offer monthly open caption matinees the third Thursday of each month. The board of directors, with a maximum of fifteen members, consists of film scholars and enthusiasts, accountants, educators, marketing and fundraising professionals. Several of the founding board members, whose original intent was primarily to "save" the Chelsea, have left the board after the first year and are in the process of being replaced. Attention is being given to those skills needed to propel the Chelsea forward, and to increasing diversity from the current 20 percent, reflecting the international flavor of our offerings as well as the communities we serve. The Executive Director, responsible for overall artistic direction, marketing/community relations and fundraising is the former director of the Ackland Art Museum. She has decades of arts management, program development and fundraising experience. The Operations Manager has a background in film and technology; and nine part time employees handle ticketing, projection and concessions. Additionally, approximately twenty-five volunteers work on membership, facilities, finance, special events and other activities.