Closed by COVID-19, Sarnia's Imperial Theatre is trying to raise $100,000 in July to support the facility's future operation.
The theatre, and Theatre Sarnia's "Tiny Little Fundraiser", is off to an encouraging start.
Executive Director Brian Austin said the community is already coming together to help out the theatre that's been closed since March due to COVID-19.
"We are going to come back strong, but we need your help to make sure that happens," said Austin. "The first day of the fundraiser, we saw great support. We had over $6,000 raised. Six per cent in one day is fantastic, but there's still a long way to go."
He said they wanted the fundraiser, which launched Monday, to be accessible to all demographics that support arts and culture, while keeping in mind financial hardships people are experiencing right now.
"We're asking for small donations of $20 or less, in an attempt to raise $100,000 in the month of July."
Austin said the donations will be used to support the theatre's operations.
"We don't have any idea or indication of when the theatre will be able to open and even when it does open, it will be at a greatly reduced capacity. If we are to fall under the same guidelines as places of worship at 30 per cent, it's going to be very hard to make operating make any kind of sense."
He estimates they've cancelled or postponed about 50 shows so far and refunded over $60,000 in tickets.
Austin said donations can be made online, or cheques can be mailed to the theatre at 168 Christina Street North, PO Box 43, Sarnia, Ontario N7T 7H8.