The Attleboro Arts Museum held an exhibition titled “Staging a Comeback” that raised over $1,000 to support the revival of the historic Union Theatre in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The theater, which opened in 1928 as a vaudeville house and later became a movie theater, has been closed since 2002 and is owned by the Friedman family. The exhibit featured items on loan from the theater, including vintage Gold Metal brand popcorn boxes, and a popcorn-themed artwork by local artist Billie Klegraefe.
The fundraiser matters because it has reinvigorated the campaign to restore the Union Theatre, a local landmark that has been shuttered for over two decades. The effort, led by Jennifer Keating of Illuminate Arts Co., aims to bring the historic venue back to life as a cultural and community asset. The museum’s involvement demonstrates how arts institutions can play a key role in grassroots preservation and economic revitalization of historic downtown spaces.