By KELLY KULTYS
Bronck’s young entrepreneurs hope to work with new Bronx business owners. (Victoria Borkowski/The Ram)
The ballroom on Arthur Ave., which was until recently, was relatively obscure, has been the talk of campus. From the “Unknown Ballroom – A Hidden Gem for the Arts” (V.96 I.2) to its most recent incident involving the cancellation of a student-run music event, there has been no shortage of coverage.
“The Blowout at the Ballroom,” as the event was titled, had to be moved to another nearby venue as the ballroom on Arthur Ave., also known as Rex Hall, did not have the proper permits to host an event of that scale.
Just a short time after this incident, the Ballroom has embarked on a new project to transform itself into the “Arthur Avenue Performing Arts Center.” The Belmont Society of Arts and Culture has taken up this project with the goal to “transform it into a multifunctioning space,” according to the fundraising project listed on rockethub.org. It plans to make this space “a cinema screening facility, an exhibit hall, dance, recital and theater space and as a multi-media education center.”
The current owner, Frank Franz, also the chairman of the Belmont Business Improvement District (BID), has taken his message online as well.
“Our goal is to transform this old catering space into a dual-purpose facility,” Franz said in an online video on rockethub.org. “We would like to develop our own theater company of new and talented writers and actors to turn around to produce our own plays. We would like to film programs, especially an annual international film special representing the roots of this community.”
Keeping with the traditions of the community is something very important to Franz. As a life-long resident, he wants this project to transform this place into a mainstay in the community.
“Our mission here is really the same mission as this neighborhood has had for over 100 years: to turn around and be a place where new voices can be seen and heard and express themselves and eventually become part of the human experience,” Franz said.
To accomplish all of this, the Belmont Society is hoping to fundraise $25,000. According to the website, the “donation[s] will help us cover our renovation costs for stage construction, projection system, lighting equipment, room divider, painting, floor sanding, seating installation of heating and air conditioning and so much more.”
They offer different levels of “funding memberships” beginning at the contributor level, which is $25 or more all the way up to the benefactor platinum club, which requires a contribution of $5,000 or more. With donations, each level along the way will receive different perks. At the contributor level, the donator will receive a Facebook and website acknowledgement.
Those who donated over $250 will receive a $50 gift certificate to an Arthur Ave. restaurant, a listing in the opening night program, an Arthur Avenue Performing Arts t-shirt and Facebook and website acknowledgement.
For the benefactor platinum circle, the top level donation, a contributor will receive a large plaque on the wall of permanent funders of the Arthur Avenue Performing Arts Center, a Grand Opening Night Invitation, a $50 gift certificate to an Arthur Avenue restaurant, a listing in the opening night program, an Arthur Avenue Performing Arts t-shirt and Facebook and website acknowledgement.
The group hopes to accomplish this goal by June 8, which gives it just under 90 days to raise $25,000.
