Northlight Theatre receives major state funding appropriation to kick-off “Northlight’s Next Act” capital campaign in Evanston

Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, Artistic Director BJ Jones and the Northlight Theatre Board of Directors announce that Northlight has been appropriated $927,500 from the state of Illinois for the construction of its new building in downtown Evanston, IL.

“Northlight is honored to be included as a line item appropriation in the new vertical Capital bill. This $927,500 appropriation confirms the economic impact that Northlight Theatre will bring to downtown Evanston. Our legislators understand the impact of the arts in our community—not only economically but as a quality of life issue,” comments Evans. 

With tremendous support from Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty, state legislators Senator Laura Fine, Representative Robyn Gabel and Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, and Evanston city staff, this new funding gives Northlight’s on-going capital campaign major momentum.

Recently, Northlight Theatre signed an Option Agreement to purchase a building in downtown Evanston at 1012-1016 Church Street, steps away from public transit and ample parking. Northlight is developing plans to purchase the building by the end of the year, and to build a new theatre on this site that will be transformational for Northlight and will enhance downtown Evanston. The new theatre will be a stand-alone, 2-3 story building. Northlight will continue to operate in its current location at the North Shore Center in Skokie through the end of the 2020-21 season.

According to a professional study by Hunden Strategic Partners, the economic impact of the new Northlight Theatre to downtown Evanston will be $56,000,000 in new spending, $644,000 new city tax revenues and 230 full-time equivalent jobs, all in the first five years.