FREDONIA - The 1891 Fredonia Opera House has been awarded a $3,700 grant from the East Hill Foundation for the purchase and installation of LED strip lighting alongside staircases that lead to the theater's balcony.
"We are very grateful to the East Hill Foundation for its support of this project," said Rick Davis, Opera House executive director. "The grant will help improve safety and convenience for Opera House audience members."
Davis said the grant funds were used to purchase dimmable LED strip lighting. This lighting was used to line the two stairways leading to the balcony to illuminate the steps for safer use during shows.
"When the theater restoration was complete in 1994, period lighting fixtures were installed in the balcony that cast some illumination on the stairs," said Davis. "When the house lights are turned on fully, the stairs are sufficiently lit for use. However, when the house lights are dimmed during a performance, or particularly during a movie, the lighting on the stairways is not quite bright enough for patrons to safely leave the balcony."
The new strip lighting solves that problem by casting light on the steps without distracting seated audience members.
The East Hill Foundation is a private family foundation, which was founded in 1986. The foundation identifies and funds innovative, charitable projects designed to enhance the quality of life of the residents from the eight counties of Western New York.
Chautauqua County's only performing arts center presenting its own programming year-round, the 1891 Fredonia Opera House is a member-supported, nonprofit organization located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.