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Traverse City Approves Another Ten Year Agreement Between Traverse City Film Festival And Bijou Theatre

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After being closed since the beginning of the pandemic, the Carnegie building in Clinch Park will remain the Traverse City Film Festival’s Bijou by the Bay Theatre for another ten years, according to the city.

The city commissioners made the decision on Monday evening. The 10-year-long agreement comes eighteen months before the previous 10-year-long agreement expires.

Although the motion was approved, some commissioners had their reservations about extending the agreement more than a year early.

Traverse City Mayor Pro Tem, Amy Shamroe, was among one of the officials who had her doubts about the renewal.

“We are eighteen months from this contract expiring, and this is a city owned property,” she said. “And while I think that the Film Festival has been a vital part of our city and continues to be, I know we have a very flourishing arts community…. and a lot of nonprofits in the area who are looking to find homes.”

The Traverse City Film Festival started their initial agreement with the city in 2013.

”I’m amazed this was on the consent calendar as much as this organization brings in as a part of the film festival” said a Traverse City resident. “Tens of millions of dollars. Be aware of that.”

The theatre’s building is owned by the city, which lets the Traverse City Film Festival use it for free. The Traverse City Film Festival also renovated it.

Mayor of Traverse City, Jim Carruthers, was in favor of the agreement, giving credit to the founder of the organization for its past success.

“Michael Moore put a million dollars into this property,” Carruthers said. “He invested time, energy, and volunteerism into making this part of the Traverse City Film Festival.”

The theatre has been closed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.

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