02/03/2022
Dixie Theatre Foundation Receives
Florida Humanities “American Rescue Plan” COVID Relief Funding
Apalachicola, Florida (November 25, 2021) — Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), has awarded Dixie Theatre Foundation a $6,000 grant for general operating costs to help recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Even with the COVID pandemic, our area remains a tourist draw as we are unique, off the beaten path and remote, which seems to appeal to folks during this unprecedented time. We have remained dark at the Dixie Theatre since cancelling our final event in March 2020 and are unclear when, and if, audiences will want to inhabit a space so closely with others again. We’re unsure what the future of live venues is,” said Dixie Partington, Producing Director of the Dixie Theatre Foundation. “The American Rescue Plan funding we received from Florida Humanities was such a lifeline; we are beyond grateful for that support. It provided assistance with expenses that might have been a major hardship to endure without that funding.”
The NEH received $135 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, which was approved by Congress this past spring. The state humanities councils, including Florida Humanities, each received a portion of the NEH award to support museums, archives, historic sites and other humanities-focused nonprofits. The Dixie Theatre Foundation was one of 129 organizations in Florida that was awarded ARP funding totaling $1.88 million from Florida Humanities. The grants are intended to meet immediate operational needs in order for organizations to remain viable and maintain delivery of public humanities programming and
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resources in their communities. Florida Humanities received 188 applications for ARP funding, with nonprofits requesting the most funds for staffing and utilities.
These funds, said Florida Humanities Executive Director Dr. Nashid Madyun, provide a safety net for the organizations so they can focus on other priorities, such as fundraising and creating programming. “For smaller nonprofits, when bills are paid and staff are safe and intact, that type of alleviation is immeasurable,” he said. “Florida Humanities is honored to provide a lifeline to our state’s cultural and historic organizations, ensuring they continue to enrich their local communities, and the Sunshine State at large, for years to come.”
Funding for this grant was provided by Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and NEH’s Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this announcement do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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About Dixie Theatre Foundation
The Dixie Theatre is North Florida’s oldest Theatre celebrating over 100 years in Apalachicola. It’s a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization and our mission is to establish and maintain live theatre as an integral part of individual and community life, to use the Theatre facility as a center of entertainment, culture, and education, and to provide a forum for addressing issues of universal interest and importance. Built in 1912 and opening April 1913, the DIXIE was originally a vaudeville house. In 1915, with the advent of motion pictures, the Dixie Theatre was converted into a Cinema. It became the entertainment center for Franklin County and remained so until 1967, when it was closed and shuttered. In January 1994, the Theatre remains were purchased from the City of Apalachicola by the Partington family and in June 1998, the DIXIE opened their first Professional Theatre Season with Sylvia and Driving Miss Daisy. In June 2004, movies returned to the Dixie Theatre for the first time in 37 years. Most presentations are held during the winter months.
About Florida Humanities
Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and sharing the history, literature, culture, and personal stories that offer Floridians a better understanding of themselves, their communities, and their state. Since 1973, Florida Humanities has awarded more than $16 million in support of statewide cultural resources and public programs strongly rooted in the humanities. These programs preserve Florida’s diverse history and heritage, promote civic engagement and community dialogue, and provide opportunities to reflect on the future of Florida. Learn more at www.FloridaHumanities.org.
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Preserving, promoting, and sharing the history, literature, and culture that offer Floridians a better understanding of themselves and their communities.
