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About Us

The Colonial Fox Theatre Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 corporation, is dedicated to reviving the historic Colonial Fox Theatre for the benefit of the southeast Kansas region and future generations. Specifically, the Foundation anticipates that revitalization of the Colonial Fox Theatre will have a transforming impact on Pittsburg’s downtown district and the economic development of surrounding communities.

Founded in December, 2006 by five local general contractors, the Colonial Fox Theatre Foundation (CFTF) has grown into a organization of more than 300 community volunteers and sustaining donors. Foundation members have been driving the rescue and rehabilitation of the historic Colonial Fox Theatre since its inception.

The Colonial Fox Theatre Foundation envisions the theatre to be a unique showcase for human creativity, arts and culture. The Theatre will be a vital asset to a livable and visitable downtown community. We believe that the historic Colonial Fox Theatre is an irreplaceable social, economic, historic and cultural resource for the Southeast Kansas region. As an iconic, creative place of public assembly, it will build community loyalty, reinforce community identity and heritage, stimulate downtown revitalization, promote pride of place and anchor creative economies.

Since our establishment in December, 2006, the Foundation has made consistent progress toward the realization of our vision.

Accomplishments

2007

• Paid Back Taxes
  
• Purchased Second Mortgage
  
• Made Down Payment
  
• Completed Emergency Stabilization
  
• Made Final Payment on Building
  
• Received 501 (c) (3) designation
  
• Listed on the Kansas State Registry of Historic Places
  
• Listed on the 2008 Kansas Preservation Alliance Most Endangered Properties List
  

2008

• Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places
  
• Received Kansas Historical Society Heritage Trust Fund Grant
  
• Received Pritchett Family Trust Grant
  
• Contracted Condition Report
  
• Contracted Restoration Plan
  
• Conducted Market Feasibility Study
  

2009

• Installed New Roof
  
• Tuck-Pointed West Exterior Wall
  
• Tuck-Pointed South Exterior Wall
• Proscenium Arch Revealed

2010

• Conducted Planning Feasibility Study
  
• Received Kansas Historical Society's Heritage Trust Fund Grant
  
• Received National Park Service's Save America's Treasures Grant
  

2011

• Removed Mold & Asbestos
  
• Repaired North Wall
• Basement Repair

2012

• Infill West Façade
  
• Repaired East Façade
• H.V.A.C. Demolition

2013

• Improved East Entrance
• Electrical Service
  
• Repair Ticket Booth

2014

• Beginning of the Ticket Booth Restoration
• Exit door platform built and cornice light installation on East Facade.

2015

• Matching Historic Tile for the Grand Enterance
• Recreating Plaster for the Grand Enterance

2016

• Grand Enterance Restoration
• HVAC System Installation
• Structural Repair to the Procenium Arch

2017

• Fire Protection Sprinkler System
• Fire Protection Alarm System
• Historic Restroom Restoration

2018

• The Colonial Fox Theatre releases RFP for master plan architectural design services.

State and National Grant Awards

• Kansas Arts Commission Arts-In-Communities Project Mini-Grant, 2009
• Kansas Arts Commission Infrastructure Grant, 2009
• Kansas Historical Society Heritage Trust Fund Grant, 2008, 2010
• Kansas Preservation Alliance Roll Up Your Sleeves Award, 2008
• League of Historic American Theatres Curtains Up Workshop Scholarship, 2007
• National Endowment for the Arts Arts-In-Communities Project Mini-Grant, 2009
  
• National Park Service Save America's Treasures Grant, 2010
• National Trust for Historic Preservation Curtains Up Workshop Scholarship, 2007

Other Grants

• Bess Spiva Timmons Family Foundation, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014
  
• Coleman Family Foundation, 2008, 2010, 2012
  
• Elliott Family Foundation, 2007, 2012
  
• Miller Family Foundation, 2009, 2010
• Names & Numbers, 2007
• Pritchett Family Trust, 2008, 2012, 2014
• Crawford County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, 2015
• SEK Art Fest, 2015

Professional Organizations
We are proud members of the following:

• League of Historic American Theatres
  
• Kansas Historical Society
  
• Kansas Preservation Alliance, Inc.
  
• Kansas Historic Theatres Association
• National Trust for Historic Preservation