The Garden Theatre in downtown Winter Garden announced today that it has permanently closed, citing “financial challenges that have proven insurmountable.”
The theater was built in 1935 as a movie theater and was then renovated several times before closing in 1963. It was renovated and reopened in 2008, and was home to numerous plays, movie screenings, and concerts, making it one of the most popular performing arts centers in Central Florida.
But those financial challenges included rising costs and state budget cuts affected their ability to secure more funding.
With the surprise ending, I have to wonder: What if they had asked for help? What if they had reached out to donors? Or asked other arts organizations? Would that have solved the problem, or only stalled the inevitable? Are there wealthy donors who might have saved the Garden Theatre? What about the local business leaders who invest hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars into unpredictable and risky business opportunities?
Do people even care anymore? Will this make a ripple in the general Central Florida consciousness beyond the arts supporters who can only watch helplessly?
While I’m a huge proponent of technology startups and entrepreneurship, I’m also a leader of a local arts organization and understand the critical role that the arts play in a community’s health and growth.
Without the arts and the cultural opportunities they create, our community becomes a more heartless, indifferent, and cold place to live. Whether business leaders and politicians will admit it, the arts give a community its soul and character, not business.
I wish Orlando’s venture capitalists would invest in the arts and work to raise much-needed funds to keep arts organizations going. I sometimes wonder whether these successful business owners and investors could turn their business acumen toward helping arts organizations grow. How much more of a powerhouse could the arts scene become?
Could they have prevented the closure of the Garden Theatre? Could they help arts organizations figure out ways to monetize their efforts and assets? Could the arts in Central Florida become a financial powerhouse if the nonprofit organizers could learn to think like businesspeople? (If any business leaders ever wants to discuss this, email me, and let’s start a conversation.)
The last show OrlandoTheatreReview.com was able to review was Peter M. Gordon’s review of Pippin less than a week ago. It was literally the last post we published before this one.
Here is the Garden Theatre’s full statement from their website.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closing of Garden Theatre, Inc. due to financial challenges that have proven insurmountable. Despite our best efforts to continue providing a space for creativity, community, and the performing arts, we can no longer sustain the operational costs and demands necessary to keep our doors open.
Since 2008, Garden Theatre has been a haven for artists, performers, and audiences alike. We have been proud to nurture local talent, bring stories to life, and foster connections through the power of live theatre. It goes without saying that the performing arts contribute greatly to a community’s quality of life. Unfortunately, rising costs and the challenges of recent times, including significant state budget cuts, have deeply impacted our ability to secure the funding required to maintain our mission.
Garden Theatre has been a major part of the West Orange community for 16 years. We are so grateful to everyone who has supported us over the years—our audiences, donors, volunteers, and artists. Your dedication and passion have been the heartbeat of this theatre, and we are honored to have been part of this community for so very long.
While our final curtain has drawn, the memories, friendships, and artistic achievements we’ve shared will live on.
Thank you for being part of our story and for allowing Garden Theatre to be part of yours.
With deep gratitude,
The Garden Theatre
Thank you, Garden Theatre, for your years of entertaining the Central Florida community and providing opportunities for the artists, actors, and performers who have graced your stage and wandered behind the curtains. We will miss you.
Photo credit: Ebyabe (Wikimedia, Creative Commons 3.0/GNU Free Documentation 1.2)