A cultural hub in Greenport’s 1939 Art Deco movie theater.
The Center offers art films and discussion panels, first-run movies, live dance and music performances, art exhibits, and youth and adult educational programs. Courses include animation, screenwriting, improv comedy, acting, and stagecraft, plus the real-world technology for editing films and managing art databases.
This historic theater closed in the pandemic. It was subsequently put up for sale. Simultaneously, the owner, Josh Sapin, offered instead to give the theater free to a community group that could raise $1 million for improvements and operations as an art center. Filmmaker Tony Spiridakis led a capital campaign, met the challenge, and the Center opened in the spring of 2024.
Side by Side made a grant to the capital campaign, funded technical equipment and furniture for a media-training classroom, and has contributed to an HVAC upgrade for the building.