The Kenworthy Performing Arts Center received more than $35,000 in a grant from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation and the Idaho Heritage Trust to preserve the historic building.
With the grant the Kenworthy will be able to complete the Façade Restoration Project and be able to repair, restore and maintain the building front.
Christine Cavanaugh, executive director for the Kenworthy, said the tiles from the façade had fallen due to weather and erosion.
“But it still is a vital part of downtown Moscow,” Cavanaugh said. “It isn’t a run-down building.”
Cavanaugh said the Kenworthy had just gone through a fundraising campaign to go digital, so they wanted to find the funds for the repairs through other means.
“The Moscow community is a very loving community, but … it was our duty to try to get this money elsewhere,” Cavanaugh said.
Jamie Hill, Kenworthy house manager, said it was important to keep the same look of the building.
“We want it to be the same old Kenworthy Theater that everyone knows,” Hill said.
The first step in the process was to make sure the sidewalk was secure and no more tiles were going to fall — the main priority was safety, Cavanaugh said. Next, the pieces had to be put back together.
“We were working with a consulting firm and other architects and construction crews … it was going to cost about $42,000 all together,” Cavanaugh said.
Though there are no plans for a major remodel, Hill said there are always maintenance projects to do since the building is so old.
“We’re updating the marquee, fixing lights and stuff like that,” Hill said.
Rim Rock Consulting spent almost two months working on various projects, Hill said. The goal was to make sure the Kenworthy had the same look and feel as downtown Moscow.
The Inland Northwest Community Foundation funds not just Latah County, but all of the Inland Northwest, Cavanaugh said.
“When we found out we got it, we were ecstatic,” Cavanaugh said. “We want to recognize them in every way possible.”
Cavanaugh said through the grant, they can keep offering Moscow the live theater, movies and community space.
“I’m just excited that we were able to do this and that we’re able to keep the Kenworthy open for Moscow to use,” Cavanaugh said.
Hill said getting the grants helps them focus on other things, like getting students in the door.
“We’re a Moscow community theater, but we’re here for the university as well,” Hill said.
The Kenworthy will host more film series in the upcoming months. The next series will be a Wes Anderson series with four of his films featured.
Alycia Rock can be reached at [email protected]