Bow Tie Cinemas, the current occupants of the historic Bedford Playhouse, have decided not to renew their lease at the end of this year. This presents an opportunity to create a not-for-profit arts house that, among other benefits, will preserve this historic building.

A small group, led by myself, believes a not-for-profit arts house, showing independent, foreign and classic films suited to the tastes of the Bedford Community, would establish the Playhouse as a vibrant cultural & social destination, enriching and revitalizing the village. It would mirror the positive impact that Pleasantville’s Jacob Burns Film Center and Stamford’s Avon Theatre (which I was involved with re-launching) have had in their communities.

Not-for-profit arts houses earn their status by enhancing the culture of their communities, not only through more varied, intelligent film programming, but also via special events featuring filmmakers or actors, and their most significant work. They also provide an educational component, serving as a resource for area schools to promote film literacy and appreciation among their students.  

These unique aspects make these entities more expensive to operate than traditional movie theaters. Therefore primary funding needs to come from member-supported donations, which account for roughly half the total revenue. The new theater would offer a range of membership levels featuring various benefits on an ascending scale, including preferred seating, private screenings and “invitation-only” celebrity events.  

Community involvement- financial and otherwise- is absolutely critical. We need to gauge quickly whether our local area residents truly want this and would support it, so we’d be grateful if you’d answer the following questions.

Thanks! --John Farr