The Columbia Film Society / Nickelodeon Theatre

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The Columbia Film Society will receive $50,000 over two years to plan for the renovation and restoration of a classic 1930's movie palace, The Fox, the last of its kind in downtown Columbia. The only non-profit art house film theater in South Carolina, Columbia Film Society currently operates the 75-seat, storefront Nickelodeon Theatre. Over the last 32 years, the group grew its current home into a sophisticated arts center including a significant media education component. The acquisition of The Fox will allow the Film Society to expand the frequency and type of programs it offers, including the ability to screen different types of media. Additionally, with two theaters featuring new technical systems the organization expects The Fox's reconfiguration to increase its audience capacity three-fold. But, equally as important, the vision for The Fox includes a modern media lab that will extend the organization's commitment to providing local students with 21st century skills. Columbia Film Society's planned move to Main Street, the city's major downtown commercial corridor, has the support of the city's administration, which provided a generous grant to facilitate the purchase of The Fox. And while the move across town will physically separate the group from its current neighbor and frequent collaborator, the University of South Carolina, the group expects their long running partnership to remain strong as they continue to share resources, feature student works and offer classes and other programming.