DaysArts a vital cultural presence in Flagstaff and surrounding areas

The Palace Theatre, in Daysland, ran as a privately owned movie theatre until 1996, then in the summer of 1999, the Town of Daysland and Daysland Ag. Society were persuaded by a dedicated group of citizens who convinced the town that this was an asset the town didn’t want to lose, and later those citizens became the founds of the Daysland and District Cultural Arts (DaysArts) Society.

“The Town was very supportive,” said Days-Arts member Sharon Eshpeter, “we leaned on them more at first for support, now we do our own fundraising, but we do receive some financial support from the Town.”

Now, 13 years later, DaysArts is hosting another successful concert series, as well as offering regular movies every weekend for eight months out of the year, taking a break in July and August, and December and January, with society members volunteering their time for each performance.

“The original owner of the theatre trained six volunteer projectionists,” says Eshpeter, “and there are now 12 in all.” She says that the four-month break gives volunteers a rejuvenating break.

The group also runs a series they call the Reel Alternative, which shows movies that aren’t necessarily at the forefront in most theatres whether they are independent films of some acclaim, or international films with limited North American releases, “I’d call them movies with more meat on their bones,” Eshpeter said.

These are shown only once per month, for eight months, and it’s possible to purchase a pass for just these showings.

“The Reel Alternative audience is growing, slowly,” Eshpeter says, “one of the best audiences we’ve had was for the movie ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,’ with 70 people in attendance.”

“It’s a growing, die-hard group,” she says.

Read the rest of the story in the November 13, 2012 Edition of The Community Press, on newsstands now!