Strengthening Community Bonds with Films
In August 2017, Havre de Grace, a small harbor town in Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay, opened a newly renovated historical theater. Named The Cultural Center at the Opera House, the theater provides an extensive program of theater, music dance and films to its small community.
Managed by the Havre de Grace Arts Collective, the theater’s film program started out with several regular series: Black and White on Tuesday Night, WW1 on the Screen, Films for Kids and POV documentaries – all amounting to four movies a month. “The films selected were intended to develop and serve diverse audiences, and to bolster an appreciation of movies as art as well as entertainment,” Jack Hirschfeld, Films Committee Chair. And it worked. After three years and new ideas that kept boosting interest, the theater’s film audiences kept growing.
Some of the imaginative programming that has helped the theater grow are its series events, like ‘In Case You Missed It’ that brings recent films not readily available in the area, and a family film series featuring titles appropriate for pre-teens, teens and parents to enjoy together on summer weekend nights.
A monthly Saturday children’s matinee series – free for kids 13 and under – includes special activities created in partnership with other community organizations and groups. For instance, the town’s mayor played Santa and the elementary school principal read a holiday tale before a showing of a holiday film, while a Black History Month screening brought out artists to help children create paper quilts depicting African American artists. To help carry out this engaging programming, the theater regularly receives help from schools, PTAs, artists, police officers, firefighters, community activists and more.
“Imaginative programming has brought broadly appealing movies to a small town on the Chesapeake, distant from the big cities of Baltimore and Philadelphia. The touchstone has been service to the community, since the doors first opened, and the community has embraced its theatre and the Havre de Grace Cinema at the Opera House.” Jack Hirschfeld, Films Committee Chair
“We’ve also used films to enhance celebrations and promote tourism,” shared Jack. “For the screening of ‘Bottle Shock,’ a local wine expert gave a talk and led the audience in a wine tasting comparing California with French wines. ‘The Mayor’s Pick’ is a popular new tradition where we let the mayor pick the holiday film; A Taste of Scotland included a film, Scotch flights and lessons in Scottish toasts; and ‘Frozen’ was screened during the wintertime Fire and Ice Festival.”
The theater also hosts film series selected by local experts who speak alongside the films to increase audience knowledge and awareness of both the history of movies and their social impact. In fact, an article on our website highlighting how “Wonder” can be used to talk to kids about bullying inspired the theater to host their own screening in partnership with local police and city schools to discuss the problem of bullying. “So far, several hundred elementary and middle school children have attended these ongoing programs,” shared Jack.
As the Opera House approaches its third anniversary since reopening, the theater, and those that help manage the programming, are proud of the fact they have screened more than 100 films for their community. “Imaginative programming has brought broadly appealing movies to a small town on the Chesapeake, distant from the big cities of Baltimore and Philadelphia,” said Jack. “The touchstone has been service to the community since the doors first opened, and the community has embraced this theatre and the Havre de Grace Cinema at the Opera House.”