Support The Vic for the good of our Community
Help us restore Devonport's Victoria Theatre. We need to raise $200,000 to kick start the project.
Auckland
The Victoria Theatre Trust needs to raise $200,000 for the restoration of the foyer.
Our target may look big but, to date, together with our Givealittle donors and some very generous donors, we have now raised nearly $70,000 towards our target of $200,000.
While this historic theatre is now a thriving cinema and live venue with all the latest cinema equipment, the foyer and facilities are crowded and worn.
We have well advanced architectural plans that will enlarge the space and improve the experience for our audiences.
The Vic is the country’s oldest cinema and has the highest historic listing with both Heritage New Zealand and Auckland Council.
A determined battle by Devonport people prevented The Vic from being turned into apartments in the mid-2000s. The Vic is owned by Auckland Council but the maintenance and restoration are entirely in the hands of the Victoria Theatre Trust which has a 23-year lease.
For the last 16 years, the trust has spent just over a million dollars on improvements to bring the theatre up to modern cinema standards and as a result, we have seen The Vic flourish and become a vibrant part of the local and wider Auckland community.
Our goal is to raise $200,000 and then apply to Lotteries and Foundation North for the majority of the funds.
The trust has proven itself to have the dedication, the skills and the experience to carry out this large restoration project.
We ask for your continued support for The Vic which is now a vibrant part of the local and wider Auckland community.
About us
The Victoria Theatre Trust formed in 2004 to save and develop The Victoria Theatre as a cinema and performing arts centre supporting and responding to community needs. It is now a vibrant and integral part of the Devonport and Auckland cultural landscape.
Use of funds
The foyer will be enlarged, heritage features restored, the ticket counter rebuilt and the foyer re-carpeted. The restoration will be a staged process and all funds raised will be used on this project and future developments.
Other page links
Latest update
Support The Vic for the Good of our Community 15 February 2021
Thanks to Givealittle and other generous donors our foyer restoration fundraising got off to a flying start and so far, $70,000 has been raised towards our target of $200,000. Fundraising was put on hold as the trust was reluctant to ask for donations during the difficult times brought about by the pandemic.
Now the Victoria Theatre Trust is opening its Givealittle foyer restoration campaign and looking to raise $130000 to reach our $200,000 target which will enable us to apply to Lotteries and Foundation North for the majority of the funds.
After lockdown, The Vic opened its four cinemas much earlier than most Auckland cinemas and has continued to provide movie-goers with a great range of new releases, art-house, children’s, classic movies and space for private functions.
To thank the community for its support we packed the theatre out to celebrate The Vic’s 108th birthday in October with a free screening of the Great Gatsby. Well attended events serve to highlight just how much we need to improve the foyer space which is worn and very congested.
The trust has well-advanced architectural plans that will enlarge the space and restore heritage features of New Zealand’s oldest cinema which has the highest historic listing with both Heritage New Zealand and Auckland Council.
For the last 16 years the trust, which has a 23-year lease with the Auckland City Council, has spent just over a million dollars on maintenance, restoration and improvements to bring the theatre up to modern cinema standards.
The Vic has flourished and become a vibrant part of the local and wider Auckland community thanks to the efforts of the dedicated and capable trust members who have the skills and experience necessary to carry out this large restoration project.
So do support The Vic and ensure this precious landmark building can continue to serve the community now and well into the future.
For more information about the Victoria Theatre Trust https://www.victheatretrust.org.nz/
Latest donations
Thank you Daniel
Thank you for your generous donation. Hopefully, there will be some restoration work starting before too long.
Gillian, your donation is very much appreciated By the Victoria Theatre Trust. Thank you for supporting our special theatre.
Who's involved?