Charlotte’s only art house movie theater details expansion into neighboring NoDa space
Charlotte’s only art house movie theater is expanding less than two years after opening in NoDa.
Charlotte Film Society, a 40-year-old nonprofit dedicated to bringing foreign, classic and independent films to Charlotte, opened The Independent Picture House in June 2022 at 4237 Raleigh St. with three auditoriums.
“This expansion adds a fourth auditorium, which will be our largest, currently estimated at 145 seats,” IPH said Wednesday on its social media sites.
Along with film screenings, this 4,639-square-foot space can be used for poetry, theater, music and comedy performances. It also will be available to rent for private and public film screenings, IPH said.
“This opportunity to expand comes at the perfect time, as we are seeing increased demand for film screenings and other events,” Brad Ritter, executive director of The Independent Picture House said in a statement.
Design plans at IPH
IPH is taking over some space that had been used by Charlotte Art League next door. The expansion is in the downstairs front gallery space, Charlotte Art Leaguee said Friday in its email newsletter.
The city’s oldest nonprofit art gallery has been in turmoil after its entire board quit and it faced eviction because of months of unpaid dues. Last week, Charlotte Art League and landlord Flywheel Group unofficially agreed to a new lease after the troubled nonprofit faced massive debt of more than $200,000 in back rent and update costs.
IPH is still in the early stages of designing the new space and accepting donations.
As of Monday, IPH has secured $435,000 of the $725,000 needed for the expansion, according to the nonprofit’s website.
Construction will begin this summer and the new theater is expected to open in November.
