Heart Theatre, Effingham
Grant Amount: $2,500
The Heart Theatre is an Art Deco cinema in Effingham that first opened in 1940. It is prominently located across the street from the Effingham County Courthouse on the main town square. While beloved by the community, the building has sat vacant since 2007. Recently, Effingham native Amy Van Bergen purchased the theater and is working with the City of Effingham to rehabilitate the building and determine the best potential future use of it. Landmarks Illinois’ grant funds will go toward conducting a feasibility study on the theater, which will help develop future plans for the property. Once the study is complete, Van Bergen plans to donate the historic property to a local nonprofit to take over management of the building.
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