FLINT STREET THEATER CHAMPIONS ART & CULTURE AS THE KEYS TO A THRIVING COMMUNITY
JOIN CAFETERIA AS WE VISIT FLINT STREET THEATER AND FRIENDS CENTER FOR CHILDREN
Going to the movies used to be a time honored tradition for most families, but with online streaming, rising ticket prices and the widespread closure of movie theaters, the experience is dying out.
New Haven, once home to a vibrant cinematic culture, has seen a slew of storied theaters shutter their doors, such as the beloved Bow Tie Cinemas’ Criterion Theater. To say there is a drought of movie theaters in Connecticut would be a vast understatement. Thankfully, the Friends Center for Children and Flint Street Theater are making sure today’s children (and adults) can still go to the movies. The progressive early education center, which resides in the old Cine 4 theater, recently opened Flint Street Theater, a 125-seat venue dedicated to making the arts affordable and accessible.
“As we were planning to expand our early care and education program, keeping one of the old theaters functioning was incredibly important to us because it relates to our mission of creating space for the community to come together. Having the opportunity to renovate and reinvigorate the theater also connects to our desire to making things accessible for families and finding a way for families to afford a night out. We really wanted to create this space where we could showcase children’s movies on the weekends that are free and accessible while simultaneously finding a space for art to come alive. It all connects back to our classroom curriculum, which allows children to discover who they are,” Allyx Schiavone, Executive Director of Friends Center for Children shares.
As an early childhood educator, an avid movie-goer and New Haven native herself, Allyx agrees that spaces like Flint Street Theater are crucial to positive childhood development and a safe upbringing. “I’m really committed to ensuring our community is thriving. In order for a community to thrive, it needs its children and families to thrive, as well as its artists. Children do best when the adults around them are doing well, which means that the community needs to be activated and supported. A number of basic needs are being removed on a national scale like food, housing and education. At Friends Center, we believe that community is also a basic need and to truly thrive, you need to be in community and have the opportunities to experience new things. That’s where art and the movies play a big role. Art allows us to expand our brains and think about and see things we might not on a daily basis. For us to ensure that children are happy and successful, they need the opportunity to be exposed to art.”
Flint Street Theater also makes sure that its audience feels seen by what’s shown on screen. Program Planner and Coordinator Trey Moore shares, “I’m from the community, so my approach has always been collaborative and geared towards asking people what they want to see. We also invite people to help us share different stories, we want our programming to reflect the community. We screen movies that members of the community have made, so it’s not always just coming from Flint Street – the city gets to see itself on the big screen. All we can do is say yes. Our job is to say yes, provide the resources and open the doors,” Trey continues.
With free attendance, popcorn and water, Flint Street Theater truly keeps its community in mind, while enriching its culture. Trey adds, “It’s not out of the ordinary for me to bring popcorn to your seat, which is a unique experience that many view as a luxury, but that’s the bare minimum we can do for a family. Guests don’t usually expect concierge service at a free movie because they’re often priced out of that level of hospitality. We recognize these seemingly little things as necessary aspects of the movie experience and we want to provide that for attendees. That level of care and compassion is woven into the fabric of Friends Center itself and the theater is an extension of that.”
The theater is also a space for TEDx talks, panel discussions, readings, music and art exhibitions, as well as networking events for like-minded creatives. “We want to be accessible for those who want to attend a movie as well as host an event at Flint Street. We offer a sliding scale for event fees, so whether you’re a large non-profit with a substantial operating budget or you’re an independent filmmaker and you want to debut your movie, we assess people based on their financial circumstances. No one is denied access. We want the barrier for entry to be as minimal as possible,” Trey continues.
“We need to support the arts. We are living in times where differences are being punished and we need to champion artists as they are the barometer and a reflection of our society. Art gives us the language for change when words alone are not enough. The heart of what we’re trying to do is create space for artists, children and families to thrive. We want to bring to life what our community is envisioning. Flint Street Theater does not solely belong to us, it’s everyone’s space,” Allyx adds.
More than just a place for screening films, Flint Street Theater is a gathering space for members of the community to immerse themselves in art and culture, recognizing that their stories are just as valuable and worth telling.