The Byrd Theatre Foundation

TO EXPAND THE BIG SCREEN EXPERIENCE, CELEBRATE THE ART OF CINEMA AND PRESERVE VIRGINIA'S GRAND MOTION PICTURE PALACE, WITH A VISION TO ELEVATE THE BYRD'S LANDMARK POSITION AMONG AMERICAN THEATERS AS A CENTER FOR FILM THAT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE THE BROADEST POSSIBLE PUBLIC ACCESS TO EXCEPTIONAL CINEMATIC EXPERIENCES,

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR GROWTH:DESPITE THE CLOSURE OF THE THEATRE DURING MONTHS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR DUE TO COVID, THE FOUNDATION MADE MAJOR STRIDES IN CAPACITY BUILDING. THE FOUNDATION USED FUNDS RAISED IN PREVIOUS YEARS TO HIRE ITS FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO ARRIVED AFTER THE THEATRE HAD BEEN CLOSED TO COVID. HOWEVER, WITHIN A FEW MONTHS WHEN THE STATE AND CITY ALLOWED RE-OPENING OF THE VENUE, THE COMPANY RE-OPENED AND DEVELOPED NEW REVENUE STREAMS DESPITE EXTREMELY LIMITED CAPACITIES. ALL CDC PROTOCALS WERE IMPLEMENTED AS WELL AS NINE MONTHS OF WORK TO THE HVAC SYSTEM. THIS MAINTENANCE WORK INCLUDED A SYSTEM WIDE CLEANING OF THE HVAC SYSTEM AND INSTALLING A TRIPLE FILTRATION SYSTEM USING HOSPITAL GRADE FILTERS AND U/V LIGHTING TO ELIMINATE AS MUCH OF THE VIRUS AS POSSIBLE AND ESTABLISH MODERN MAINTENANCE OF THIS SYSTEM. ALSO, FUNDS WERE USED TO EMPLOY SEVERAL FULL-TIME STAFF POSITIONS TO CREATE OPERATIONAL STABILITY. DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES WERE BROUGHT IN HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME AS WELL. ALTHOUGH THE THEATRE CONTINUES TO OPERATE AT ONE-THIRD OF AVAILABLE OCCUPANCY, EVERY OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN UTILIZED TO SAFELY BALANCE THE NEED TO BRING IN REVENUE WITH THE NEED FOR PROTECTING PATRONS AND STAFF AS COVID VARIANTS HAVE CONTINUED TO CAUSE PEAKS AND VALLEYS TO POTENTIAL INCOME AND PROGRAMMING.

RESTORATION AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE THEATRE:LISTED ON THE STATE AND NATIONAL REGISTERS OF HISTORIC LANDMARKS, THE BYRD THEATRE OPENED NINETY YEARS AGO ON DECEMBER 24, 1928. IT HAS REMAINED OPERATIONAL AND NEARLY UNCHAGED SINCE THE DAY CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED. IN 2011, THE BYRD THEATRE FOUNDATION LAUNCHED A BOLD INITIATIVE TO RAISE THE FIRST $1,800,000 FOR PHASE ONE RESTORATION PROJECTS, MORTGAGE REDUCTION AND CAPACITY BUILDING. SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE ROOF, REPLACEMENTS OF THE THEATRE'S HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS, INSTALLATION OF A DIGITAL SERVER, INSTALLATION OF A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART 4K PROJECTOR, ONGOING MAINTENACE AND REPAIS ON THE MIGHT WURLITZER ORGAN. MORE RECENT WORK HAS INCLUDED REPAIR AND RESTORATION OF THE THEATRE'S PLASTERWORK, INSTALLATION OF A POINT-OF-SALE SYSTEM AT THE THEATRE, REPLACEMENT OF THE THEATRE'S CENTER SECTION OF SEATS IN THE MAIN AUDITORIUM, CREATION OF A WHEELCHAIR ACCESIBLE SEATING AREA AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADA FAMILY RESTROOM ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE THEATRE.

EVOLVING THE BYRD AS A CENTER FOR FILM, FILM LITERACY, AND PROGRAM EXPANSION:THE IMPACT OF COVID DELAYED SOME OF THESE EFFORTS ALONG WITH THE ORGANIZATIONAL SHIFT DUE TO HIRING PROFESSIONAL STAFF. HOWEVER, EVERY EFFORT TO CONTINUE THIS CRITICAL GOAL CONTINUED AT SOME LEVEL. SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMMING OCCURRED DUE TO ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS WITH FILM FESTIVALS AS WELL AS NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AGENCIES SUCH AS A NEW BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOR WOMEN OF COLOR THROUGH VCU THAT SCREENED NEW FILMS BY DIRECTORS OF IN THEIR PROGRAM, WORKING WITH FILM CLASSES AT VCU FOR PRESENTATION OF STUDENTS FINAL PROJECTS, WORLD PREMIERES WERE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH DISNEY AND THE STATE FILM OFFICE FOR VIRGINIANS WHO HAD WORKED ON THESE FILMS OR SERIES. HISTORIC PRESERVATION EFFORTS CONTINUED THROUGH COMPLETING A CONTRACT WITH AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM AND THEN PRICING OUT ITEMS IDENTIFIED FOR REPAIR AND PRESERVATION ALONGSIDE EFFORTS TO CULTIVATE DONORS FOR AN UPCOMING CAMPAIGN TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THESE ITEMS. AND, FINALLY, THE THEATRE BEGAN WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CARYTOWN MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION TO PROGRAM ACTIVITIES TOGETHER FOR THE COMMUNITY.