Look Forward
Header
Look Forward
In 1916, Hiram C. Walden converted a former Williams College fraternity house into a movie theater. For 109 years a continuously operated cinema has presented movies on Spring Street
as The Walden Theatre, The Taconic Theatre, College Cinema, The Nickelodeon, and finally Images Cinema.
In 1998, Images became a community-supported, non-profit Art house Theatre
— one of the first non-profit Cinemas in the country — and in the ensuing 25 years established itself as a beloved part of the region’s cultural landscape.
Since that time, Images has also built a supportive group of members, donors, volunteers, visitors and committed film-goers
, while maintaining its status as anchor of Spring Street.
Images is one of the last single screen theatres in operation in the US
. The film distribution structure has changed significantly in recent years and that has created new challenges.
First run film distributors sometimes require 2, 3 or even 4-week runs, almost always exceeding IMAGES market size. Distributors also often require something called a “clean screen” — meaning only one film can show on any given screen for its run. For example, we can't show Barbie
at 7pm and Oppenheimer
at 10pm.
To address these challenges, we have to think big
.
And it ensures that we provide wide ranging programming to a diverse audience .
Completed architectural work shows a second, smaller theater fits well within existing leased space. Feasibility studies and business plan show this renovation will sustain Images financially.
The main theater will be right-sized to 70 seats — a seating capacity that better serves Images’ average audience and meets 99% of our historic demand — and a new 19 seat theater will be created in the rear of the current auditorium.
Both upgraded theatres will have new comfortable seats and improved accessibility, Top-of-the-line screens, projectors, and audio, and new sound-proofing and acoustics.
We are in the process of generating construction drawings, and finalizing budgets with contractors. We are targeting closing the main theater in late August 2025, after the summer season. All renovation and upgrades will take place over four-to-five months, and we will be fully reopen by February 2026. During this time we anticipate our Lounge will remain open, and Images will provide programming via off-site collaborations around the Northern Berkshires.
This new operating model will allow us to reduce our need for additional fundraising appeals while expanding programming, increasing income, and enhancing our community outreach.
The Look Forward campaign is more than a renovation, it’s a new business model that allows Images to thrive and grow as a beloved cultural resource and as a business.
As of the launch of this campaign to the public in February 2025, we have raised over 60% of our campaign total, or over $1,300,000,
with additional support pending from state and local sources. We are now seeking support from foundations, businesses, and individuals to finance the rest of the project.
Support Images Cinema as we LOOK FORWARD.
There are a number of recognition opportunities for the campaign at various levels:
$250,000 --- naming opportunity for Large Theater
$150,000 --- naming opportunity for Cinema Lounge
$125,000 --- naming opportunity for Small Theater
$50,000 --- naming opportunity for Lobby
$2,500+ --- inclusion in Look Forward campaign video + listing on donor wall in completed renovation$1,500 --- seat plate on new chair in new auditorium seat plates currently sold out!
$100+ --- listing on the website
If you would like to know more about options to make a multi-year pledge, send gifts of stock, and other ways to contribute, please contact Executive Director Dan Hudson at [email protected]
Anonymous (7)
Susan Abrams
Shaina Adams-El Guabli
George Ahl
Betsy Aidem
Herbert Allen
Jim & Kris Allen
John & Jane Allen
Tracey Allen
Jamie & Childsy Art
Pam & Brad Baer
Laurie Bank & Stuart Freyer
Joanne Barker
Mary Kate & Dave Barnes
Thomas & Libby Bartels
Jim Baur
Janet Bedell
Caroline Behr
Robert & Ilona Bell
Jill & Ned Benedict
Laura Bentz & Ken Kuttner
Berkshire Community College Foundation
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Philippe & Pam Besnard
BFAIR
Kevin Bicknell
Mike Birch
Daphne & Laurence Birdsey
Joan Dix Blair
Christopher Bolton
Debbie Bostian & Bob Ochoa
William & Margo Bowden
Stephanie Boyd
Ralph Bradburd
Matt Brogan & Kat Hand
Susan & Duncan Brown
Sue & Andy Budz
Elizabeth Burnett & Stacy Govi
Art Carpenter & Alexandra Wettlaufer
Brian Carpenter & John Gordon
Tim & Barbara Carr
Tim Carry & Jean Manning
Ben & Sarah Cart
Matt Carter
Cosmo Catalano & Mary Pfister
Elliot & Karin Cattarulla
Rob Cella
Rebecca Cellana
Chip Chandler
Deb Chaulk
Jim Chervenak
Chilmark Foundation
Jeana Choi
Heather & Craig Clemow
Carol & Robert Colantuono
Licia & Michael Conforti
Paula Consolini & Jim Mahon
Linda Conway
Cordmaster Engineering
Liz & Tom Costley
Tom & Melissa Cragg
Sam Crane & Maureen Strype
Dave Crowley
Jane Culnane
Kevin Curran
Lisa & Michael Cushman
Virginia Dahms
Laura Dankner
Carl Davis
Jessica & Andy Davis
Laura Day
Bill Densmore
Julia Dewdney & John Dundas
Dave & Suzanne Dewey
Mary Lou Dewitt
Julia Dixon & Tony Dunne
Anne & Martino Donati
Richard Dresser
Skip & Margie Durning
Emily Eakin & Jane Patton
Deborah Edson
Tom & Ellen Ennis
Gintare Everett
Tim & Michele Faselt
Zach Finch
Juliet Flynt & Paula Wells
Steve Fogel & Joan Lister
Ryan Ford
Judith Fraser & Stan Parese
Alexandra Garbarini & Micah Singer
Susan Gold
Tom & Sandey Goodbody
Elizabeth Goodman & Alex Brooks
Dave Gorson
Suzanne Graver
Dustin & Gale Griffin
Benjamin Grimes
Judy & Bruce Grinnell
Sherwood Guernsey
GVH Studio
Parvin Hajizadeh
Carolyn & Tim Halpin-Healy
Andreas & Diane Halvorsen
Steve & Georgia Hannock
Yvonne Hao & Mark Wu
Holly Hardman
Gretchen Haury
Jeana Hayes-Carrier
Laurie Heatherington
Brent Heeringa & Courtney Wade
Charlotte & Kurt Hemr
Kevin Higgins
Cecilia Hirsch
Michael Holly & Keith Moxey
Bill & Lindsey Hooper
Tracie Hotchner
Matthew Howard
Russ & Christine Howard
Jennifer Howlett & Mark Stevens
David Irwin & Jeannie Albrecht
Anne & Greg Islan
Sarah Jacobsen & Kurt Wells
Steve & Lisa Jenks
Kristen Johanson & Tom Green
Jeff Johnson & Hy Conrad
Stephen Josephson
Laura Kaufman & Adam Rothschild
Kurtis Keefner & Catherine Obrzut
Kevin Kennefick & Sue Killam
Olga Kim
Katrina Klaus
Elizabeth Kolbert
Christophe Kone
Nina Konsa
John Korba
Valerie Krall & Ralph Lieberman
Bob Kraus & Kathy Morris
Ira Lapidus
John & Deborah Slaner Larkin
Karen Lartin & Bob Christiansen
Henry & Maureen Lee
Ben Lee-Cohen
Andrea Leigh
Annie Loar
Annie & John Lloyd
Anna Lucia
Tom Lutzy & Jim Laprade
Deborah & John MacDonald
Julie & Bruce MacDonald
Julie Mackaman
Jack & Judy Madden
Molly Magavern & Mark Reinhardt
Jim Mancall
Jeanne Marklin & Jerry Caprio
Delia Marshall & Tom Wallace
Wendy Martin & Jamie Martin
Tattiya Maruco
Massachusetts Cultural Council
Massachusetts Office of Tourism & Travel
James & Mary Maxymillian
Sandy Mayo
Sam McCauley & Shikha Singh
Ann McCallum & Andy Burr
Sam McCauley
Jock & Jean McClellan
Margaret McComish & Magnus Bernhardsson
Lillian McKay
Wit McKay & Anne Kennedy
Kathy & Phil McKnight
Sarah McNair & Randall Fippinger
Wendy McWeeny
Peter Mehlin
Barry & Denny Meneghelli
Elaine & Ron Mensh
Tom Merrill
Olivier & Laure Meslay
Katherine Milan
Carol Miller & Rich Levy
Mike Miller
Beverly Mitchell & Michael Corris
Yina Moore
Megan Morey & Nate Budington
Leslie & Richard Morgenthal
Anna Moriarty Lev & Greg Howard
Alethea Morrison
Melanie Mowinski
Jeffrey Murray
Katherine Myers
James Naughton
Deborah Navins
Nancy Nylen & David Dethier
Kevin O'Rourke & Edith Thurber
Michael O'Rourke
Trystan Patrick & Toby Thomas
Cynthia Payne
Steve Payne & Carol Stein-Payne
Scott Opler & James Peebles
Shirley Perlman
Tim & Sally Petersen
Ron & Rosamond Pietras
David & Libbie Poppick
Bridget Power & Tim Goggins
Ninah Pretto
Fred & Susan Puddester
Ruben Puentedura & Stacy Evans
Donna Quirk
Mark Reach
Judith Reichert
Nancy Rickus
Wilma Rifkin
Diana Ritz
Barbara & Craig Robertson
Nancy Roseman & Lori Van Handel
Shawn Rosenheim
Paul Rosenthal & Elaine Hardman
David Rosner & Ellen Schutz
David & Deborah Rothschild
Kiara, Yuko & Lou Royer
Michael & Patrie Sardo
Will Schmenner
Chris & Sarah Schmidt
Laura Schrock & Kim Taylor
Kathleen Schultze
Howard Shapiro & Shirley Brandman
Tom Sheldon
Jim & Karen Shepard
Greg & Mary Shine
Shirley Brownrigg Charitable Trust
Timothy Shuker-Haines
Matthew Sillman
Steve Simon & Maud Mandel
Joe Small
Cheryl Small
Philip & Suzy Smith
Sam & Elizabeth Smith
Thet Soe & Mar Lar Myint
Southern Vermont Medical Center
Carolyn & Robert Stegeman
Margaret & David Stewart
Sheila Stone
John & Janie Strachan
Susan Street
Jane & Win Steubner
Michael & Sally Sussman
Brad Svrluga & Julia Bowen
Rob & Annmarie Swann
Jonathan Swartz
Jane Swift
Jay & Rachel Tarses
Sofia Taylor
Trisha Teig
Mark Tercek
The Feigenbaum Foundation
The Mary & Henry Flynt Grant
Audrey Thier
Laurie & Peter Thomsen
Eric Tiffany & Lee Park
Stepehn Tifft
Jennifer Trainer
Dave & Rebecca Tucker Smith
Ron & Judy Turbin
Karen Tynan
Dorothy Urschel
Colleen Venable
Lee Venolia & Jay Thoman
Gladys Villalobos
Carrie Waara & Scott Wong
Ruth Wade
Jack & Susy Wadsworth
Zachary Wadsworth & Tim Pyper
Susanne Walker
Pamela Wax & Chaim Bronstein
Steve Wertimer & Jane Bolster
Mariet Westermann & Charlie Pardoe
Eric White
Wild Oats Market
Pat Wilk
Williams College
Martha Williamson
Williamstown Community Preservation Committee
Williamstown Physical Therapy
Alice & David Wilson
Barbara Winslow
Alfred & Charlotte Wise
Kathy Wiseman
Denise & David Wohabe
Kelsey Wood
Nick & Joan Wright
Frank Youngkin
Jessica Yurkovsky & Rage Hezekiah
Marketing Signup
Marketing Signup
custom footer
Your community-based movie theater.
A Berkshire tradition for over 100 years, Images Cinema is a non-profit, community-supported movie theater that celebrates film as an art form, a source of entertainment and learning, and a means to cultivate an engaged community.
Footer
