FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2024
Media Contact:
Rachel Marecle
(253) 572-6062 x103,
rachel@grandcinema.com
Murdock Trust awards $400K in grant funding to Save The Grand campaign
Grant includes matching funds that will double the next $100K in donations
The grant includes $100,000 in matching funds, meaning the next $100,000 in donations to the Save The Grand campaign will be doubled — amounting to $200,000 toward the effort to buy the building and secure the theater’s future in Pierce County.
“We are incredibly grateful to receive this significant gift from such a reputable philanthropic organization,” Executive Director Philip Cowan said. “It is a testament to The Grand’s value in our community — and its potential. We are in the home stretch, and we hope film lovers and Grand supporters use this as an opportunity to double their impact and get us over the finish line.”
The Grand Cinema’s Board of Directors approved a purchase and sale agreement with the longtime owners of the Merlino in fall 2020, allowing the nonprofit the opportunity to raise $5.5 million to take ownership of the building and expand its mission — not only within its walls, but also throughout the region.
The Merlino, located at Sixth and Fawcett avenues, has been home to The Grand since the organization was founded more than 27 years ago. In that time, it has housed thousands of independent, international and local film screenings, as well as hundreds of film camps, festivals, competitions, director Q&As, panel discussions, and other community events and educational programming.
The Grand’s neighbors inside the Merlino include Tacoma City Ballet, Dukesbay Theater, and multiple private art studios, among other tenants, making it one of the only arts hubs in the city. The building also houses community staple Corina Bakery.
Owning the Merlino will allow The Grand Cinema to do more than offer exceptional movies, including many that don’t show anywhere else. It will guarantee stability — generating more than $200,000 in new revenue and eliminating the threat of rising rent or being forced out of Tacoma altogether.
The Grand Cinema announced its multimillion dollar fundraising campaign in September 2023.
At the time of the announcement, Tacoma’s newspaper The News Tribune called the nonprofit theater “a priceless asset,” adding: “The prospect of losing it — or even the idea of potentially losing it — should be sobering for anyone who cares about local arts and culture in Pierce County.”
The additional revenue and control that comes with owning the building will eliminate financial barriers and position The Grand to strengthen existing community partnerships, including Tacoma Public Schools, Metro Parks and other local arts organizations. It will provide the flexibility and funding to meet new and diverse audiences where they are at and also create a gathering space for aspiring filmmakers.
“The Grand is so much more than an arthouse theater,” Board President Kari Plog said. “The Grand is a gathering place, a place to expand your mind, to experience art in community. If you want to learn something, or feel something, there is no better place than The Grand. This major gift is a huge step closer to preserving and expanding that transformative experience.”
To donate to the campaign or learn more, click here.
For media: Here is a link to courtesy images.
About our Save The Grand campaign
The Grand Cinema has until June 2025 to raise $5.5 million to purchase the Merlino Arts Center. The purchase includes the land where the adjacent parking lot currently sits and all of the space currently operated by other tenants. After taking ownership of the building, The Grand will begin generating $217,000 in additional net revenue to enhance and expand programming.
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has been supporting the growth of Pacific Northwest nonprofits since 1975. From day one, our mission has been to serve individuals, families and communities across the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, through grantmaking, enrichment programs and convenings that strengthen the region’s educational, social, spiritual, and cultural base in ways that are innovative and sustainable.
About The Grand Cinema
The Grand Cinema is the South Sound’s nonprofit home for independent, international and local film. As the only nonprofit cinema in Pierce County, we are committed to enriching lives and enhancing the cultural vitality of the community through the art of film and educational programming. We achieve our mission by encouraging passion for film for all audiences, providing a high quality theater experience, and educating the community about film.
The theater is open 365 days a year thanks to more than 200 volunteers, who do everything from checking tickets to selling popcorn. In 2006, The Grand launched the Tacoma Film Festival. More recently, The Grand became a beneficiary of Tacoma Creates funding, expanding access to film by offering free admission to students who attend any public or private school in Tacoma. The funds also allowed The Grand to bring free film camps out into the community.
