Our Story
In 1995, High Places Community Church purchased the Grove Theater—rescuing what was, at that time, an abandoned and derelict building slated for demolition. Thanks to the efforts of an army of volunteers, the church brought the theater back to life, restoring the large original theater space and converting several smaller movie theaters into classroom space. Behind it all was a bold vision: to make the theater a free venue available to the local community.
Of course, running and maintaining a theater isn’t free—it requires a significant amount of work and capital just to keep the lights on!
Since 2004, we have hosted over 1,500 events, performances, fundraisers, recitals and more—serving over 350,000 visitors.
Thanks to the financial and volunteer support of High Places Community Church, the fundraising efforts of Friends of the Grove, and the generosity of user groups and community members, the Grove Theater has been able to host over 1,500 events, performances, fundraiser, recitals and more—serving over 350,000 visitors—on a “pay-it-forward” basis. Because the Grove Theater is not a for-profit “venue for rent,” there are no rental fees for use of the facility. (Period.) While we absolutely welcome donations from user groups, it may not make sense for the organizer of a free concert or a nonprofit fundraiser to contribute financially. Instead, we invite our user groups (and visitors) to think creatively about the resources and opportunities they do have to support our mission. If you see value in what the Grove Theater has to offer, there are plenty of ways you can give back in a meaningful way!
Together—in a day when the word “community” gets thrown around a lot!—we hope to build a sense of belonging and investment between all those who share this space, so that…
Emerging and established artists have a unique opportunity to grow and test their wings.
Non-profits can plan events that stretch their dollars further!
The people of Oak Ridge (and beyond) can invest in local youth, music, arts and cultural programs that matter to them.
We can preserve an architectural landmark and venue of historical and cultural significance.