a/perture celebrates 15th anniversary, surpasses fundraising goal

After a/perture cinema sent a call for help to the community in fall 2024, generous donors responded and rocketed past the theater’s $100,000 goal.  In all, the #saveaperture campaign running from mid-September through December 31 raised $251,775, inclusive of $70,000 in grants from area foundations. More than $181,000 came in the form of donations from individuals ranging from $5 to $20,000. In all, 594 individuals stepped up to join the campaign with donations.  In September, the board of directors of a/perture determined that without a cash infusion of at least $100,000 by year end, the theater might need to close its doors. The community’s strong response empowered the board of directors to hire new leadership and commit to keeping the theater open in 2025.   “We can’t thank the Triad community enough for demonstrating this extraordinary level of support for a/perture and its mission,” says new Executive Director Leigh Dyer. “And now, the real work of ensuring our long-term sustainability must begin.”  The news comes as a/perture celebrates its 15th anniversary as an anchor of downtown Winston-Salem. The theater popped its first popcorn and opened its doors on January 8, 2010. This past Wednesday, a/perture celebrated by re-screening one of its...