A Message from the North Fork Arts Center

The Greenport Movie Theater has been owned by Josh Sapan for the past 18 years. Josh has announced that he would like it to transition to a new owner. He’s put it on the market for $5.5M. Most likely for it to become a hotel. However, Josh has also indicated that he is willing to gift the building to a 501c3 which, if formed, would sustain an ongoing movie theater, community arts center, and events space there.

Former Orient resident Tony Spiridakis is spearheading the effort to create this entity, currently named the North Fork Arts Center. For a number of years Tony has run a donation-funded winter film series in the building, as well as held programs and screenings for the Manhattan Film Institute summer filmmaking program. Josh has agreed to make this gift once the NFAC is formed and can show $1M in pledges. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to create a cultural anchor on the North Fork. A place to screen first run films, independent films, hold concerts, conferences, and community events.

Here is an article from last week’s Suffolk Times: https://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/2023/01/as-historic-theater-is-listed-for-5-5m-an-effort-mounts-to-save-it/

Also, here is the fledgling website for the North Fork Arts Center: https://nofoartscenter.org/

There is a pledge form at the bottom of the website. There is also a contact number if you have questions. Pledged funds will be collected once the center moves forward.

Thank you for your attention and interest in creating a vibrant arts center in Greenport!

Happening Now

Spring 2023 Newsletter

Spring 2023 Newsletter

We hope you are all enjoying the cool and peaceful days of spring as we approach the busy summer months.Kicking off the summer season, after a long hiatus the first in-person Annual Meeting of the Orient Association will be held on Saturday, May 27th at 9:30 am in Poquatuck Hall.Members of the Orient Association will be voting on a new slate of officers and Board Members will be introduced.
read more
Forum on Coastal Resilience and Sea Level Rise

Forum on Coastal Resilience and Sea Level Rise

The Orient Association hosted a forum on Coastal Resilience and Sea-Level Rise. The guest speaker was Elizabeth Hornstein.Elizabeth is a Sustainable and Resilient Communities Extension Professional with New York Sea Grant. She is supporting Suffolk County communities within the Long Island Sound watershed with sustainability and resilience planning and implementation of projects. The goal of this work is to help communities anticipate and overcome disturbances caused by a changing climate. Elizabeth will discuss sea level rise and environmental threats affecting Orient, as well as opportunities to increase resilience.
read more