Fundraising Eclipses $300,000 for Renovation of Novato Theater

More than $300,000 has been raised by the volunteer fundraising team that is trying to get the renovated and reopened in the Old Town section of Novato.

That announcement was made Tuesday before the Novato City Council by Bernice Baeza, who is spearheading the effort by a new nonprofit that hopes to secure enough money to buy the theater from the city of Novato.

The $303,000 raised so far includes $150,000 pledged by Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold, who represents most of Novato, and does not include commitments by members of a new limited liability corporation who are pledging $30,000 or more to the cause.

“The main object now is to keep communicating,” Baeza said to the council. “Not everybody knows about this despite all the efforts we’ve made.”

Baeza and the volunteers aim to raise $750,000 in donations and pledges by Sept. 1. That was the amount and date agreed upon by the city and the nonprofit Novato Screen Savers, a group focusing on fundraising and eventual interior demolition, full operation and full ownership of the theater. If the goal is reached, the city will sell the theater to the nonprofit for $50,000.

Baeza, the Lark Theater executive director, leads the campaign to revamp the run-down theater at 924 Grant Ave. and reopen it for film, performing arts and other events. Several events are coming up, including a primer on LLC membership at 7 p.m. June 20 at Inn Marin in Ignacio and a concert in front of the theater featuring local talent on Aug. 8.

Baeza said that once the fundraising goal is reached, “the public will be more secure in donating to something that’s real instead of something that’s an idea.” She said 2011-12 are fundraising years for the theater group and reconstruction would begin in 2013 if things go well.

“The demolition party is going to be extraordinarily fun,” she said. “People love to pick up sledgehammers.”

Volunteers welcome newbies to their meetings every Tuesday night in the Novato Police Department training room at 909 Machin Ave.

To donate, learn more about the LLC or to volunteer, check www.novatotheater.net. See linked stories for more details and search for Novato Theater on Facebook to join the effort.