Fox Gives, the philanthropic arm of the Fox Theatre, today announced 12 single-year grants totaling $500,000 for historic theaters and partner organizations in Georgia. The funding enables a range of projects to support important cultural assets and strengthen their operations.

Eight organizations will receive Preservation & Facilities Grants to engage community-wide participation and support for local preservation and facilities projects while fostering a sense of communal pride and ownership. Four grantees will receive Technical Services Grants, providing direct access to professional experts and resources to address specific organizational, operational and strategic needs. Support may include strategic planning, professional development, organizational growth, sustainability, leadership development and technology guidance.

Now in its 18th year, Fox Gives has invested more than $6.2 million in historic theaters and cultural landmarks across Georgia and the Southeast. Of that total, more than $4.7 million has been awarded through single-year grants to 66 venues throughout the region. Earlier this year, Fox Gives also bestowed $1 million in multiyear grants to the historic DeSoto Theatre in Rome and the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium, with each receiving $500,000 in long-term preservation support.

Grants from Fox Gives are designed to help address immediate needs, plan for the future and advance significant long-term projects. The program funds eligible projects focused on preservation, facilities, planning, technical assistance and other critical needs.

“The Fox Theatre’s own history has shown us what’s possible when dedicated supporters invest in a venue and believe in its potential,” said Allan Vella, president and CEO of the Fox Theatre. “As we approach our 100th anniversary, we’re proud to carry that legacy forward through Fox Gives to help local theaters strengthen their operations and contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of their cities and regions.”

Leigh Burns, director of community partnerships for Fox Gives, added, “Every historic theater and cultural landmark has a story to tell and a role to play in the life of its community. By supporting projects that range from critical building repairs to improved performance capabilities and long-term planning, we’re helping these organizations continue sharing the performing arts and Georgia’s unique heritage with audiences for many years to come.”

2026-2027 Preservation & Facilities Grant Recipients:

Colored Memorial Building Auditorium, Brunswick – $75,000

Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority

A two-time Fox Theatre grant recipient, the nonprofit organization is rehabilitating the Colored Memorial Building Auditorium – built to honor AfricanAmerican veterans of World War I – as well as the school and surrounding historic buildings. The funding will support interior auditorium repairs to enhance the building’s structural integrity, along with roof repairs. 

GEM Theatre, Calhoun - $56,000

Friends of Calhoun’s GEM Theatre

This is the first Fox Theatre grant awarded to the GEM Theatre. Funding will replace the aging HVAC system to improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs and ensure the historic building remains a comfortable and enjoyable venue for performances, educational programs and community events.

Imperial Theatre, Augusta - $23,500

Imperial Theatre

This is the fifth grant award the Imperial Theatre has received from the Fox Theatre since 2010. It will provide upgrades for the backstage rigging system to improve functionality. Located in historic downtown Augusta, the Imperial Theatre continues a strong legacy of presenting a variety of performances and arts education support for the region.

Martin Theatre, Douglas - $40,000

Martin Centre Preservation Company, Inc.

This is the first Fox Theatre grant awarded to the Martin Theatre, a long time Georgia Presenter member theater in southeast Georgia. The crucial funding will support repairs to the historic interior. This grant will be combined with additional grant funding and matching funds from the non-profit organization.

Plaza Theatre, Atlanta - $75,000

Plaza Theatre Foundation, Inc.

Since 2013, the Fox Theatre has funded the Plaza Theatre in four grant cycles totaling $181,190. In this phase of ongoing improvements, funding will go toward a historically accurate restoration of the 1939 building’s façade and entrance, including masonry and storefront repairs. This project also includes lighting and waterproofing improvements to help preserve the historic theater.

Sautee Nacoochee Center, Sautee Nacoochee - $25,000

Sautee Nacoochee Community Association, Inc.

This third consecutive grant from the Fox Theatre will assist in a final rehabilitation phase of the historic gymnasium at the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center. An updated lighting system and sound board will be installed, enhancing performances, rentals and programming at the 1930s facility while preserving the building’s character.

Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta - $36,500

Theatrical Outfit

This is the second Fox Theatre grant for Theatrical Outfit, located in downtown Atlanta and proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary in the 2026/2027 season. The funding will upgrade stage systems and projection technology at the Balzer Theater, enhancing production quality and expanding capabilities for performances, events and rentals.

Thomasville Center for the Arts, Thomasville - $65,000

Thomasville Center for the Arts

The second consecutive grant from the Fox Theatre supports the restoration of the historic East Side School’s terra cotta roof. Opened in 1915, the former school building continues to serve as a cornerstone for arts programming and cultural engagement. 

2026-2027 Technical Services Grant Recipients:

Georgia Chitlin' Circuit Heritage Trail, Statewide - $25,000

Georgia Historic Preservation Division/Georgia Department of Community Affairs

This is the second Fox Theatre grant for the multiphase Georgia Chitlin’ Circuit Heritage Trail project. The funding supports greater documentation of both remaining and no longer extant sites, focusing on underserved regions and producing an updated historic report and heritage trail brochure. These important resources help preserve African American cultural history and support future heritage tourism and educational efforts. 

Marigold Auditorium, Winterville - $25,000

City of Winterville

This is the fifth Fox Theatre grant for Marigold Auditorium located in Winterville, the smallest city in Athens-Clarke County. The project will include the development of a comprehensive 10-year strategic plan to help ensure the long-term sustainability of its historic facility and ongoing cultural programming.

Morton Theatre, Athens - $20,000

Morton Theatre Corporation

This is the third grant from the Fox Theatre for the Morton Theatre, the only surviving vaudeville theater still in operation in the United States that was uniquely built, owned and operated by an African American. Grant funding will develop a comprehensive strategic plan informed by community engagement, organizational assessment and board planning. This effort will strengthen operations, guide future growth and help preserve the historic theatre’s cultural legacy while better serving the Athens-Clarke County community.

GoodUse Grant Program, Statewide - $34,000

Southface Institute, Atlanta

Southface has partnered with the Fox Theatre since 2021 to complete more than $600,000 in grant funded projects through the GoodUse Grant Program in both Georgia and the Southeastern United States. The partnership has focused on historic theaters becoming more sustainable through energy efficiency planning and physical building updates. This grant will provide subgrants for multiple historic theaters to receive energy audits from Southface Institute technical experts, providing a road map to achieve greater energy efficiency.

For more information about Fox Gives and its impact on historic theaters across Georgia, please visit foxtheatre.org.