Donations have topped the online fundraiser goal of $15,000 for the Gibson Theatre.
The downtown Batesville cinema entered the fundraiser in an effort to raise funding to purchase and install the equipment to convert from 35 mm movies to a digital system.
The fundraising campaign required the theater to raise a minimum of $15,000 in 30 days or the money raised would not be granted. As of Wednesday morning, the project had received $15,783 from 196 supporters.
Gibson Theatre owner Kim Powell said he appreciates the community support, noting, “The online fundraising page is up until May 26. Let’s not quit there.”
The theater has applied for a local grant which was not awarded, leaving the theater still $10,000 to $15,000 short of obtaining the equipment.
Without the new digital technology, the theater could be forced to close as early as this summer.
