In July of 2024, the Art House Convergence, an organization representing art house theaters across the country, released the results of a survey of patrons with some startlingly results. Here is a summary:
74% of patrons report that their art house theater is “extremely” or “very” valuable to their overall quality of life, up from 66% in 2019. 43% of respondents have paid to be members of their local art house organization. 92% of respondents said that their art house cinema presents films that are profound, 83% agree that their art house exposes them to new ways of thinking, 82% believe that attending their art house cinema makes them a more well-rounded person, 75% say that it raises their consciousness of important issues and 67% say that attending their art house connects them with people with shared interests and beliefs.
Art houses serve as the backbone for the artistic, civic, and economic vitality of communities. 93% say their art house sparks art and culture, 90% agree that their art house is one of the best things about the community, 89% say that their cinema helps tell important stories that would otherwise not be told, 87% say their cinema is an anchor in their community and 77% say that their cinema enhances their community’s economic vitality.
The plan for the Metro Cinema Center is aimed at fulfilling exactly this function for the Upper West Side and for all of Manhattan above 14th Street. Arts institutions, in general, have proven to be an economic boom to host neighborhoods, feeding restaurants, pedestrian traffic and increasing real estate values. The Metro is perfectly situated to provide a huge multiplier to the neighborhood.