The Rangeley Friends of the Arts has been working to upgrade and renovate the Lakeside Theater on Main Street in Rangeley. Turning the old projection room in to a classroom and creating a new theatrical lighting and sound booth has been estimated to cost $40,000. The organization recently received a $20,000 grant from the Davis Family Foundation to help with the project.

In 2015, an anonymous donor offered a challenge to match up to $10,000 in local donations for building improvements. Local donations to the Building Improvement Fund equal $8,420, just $1,580 shy of receiving the entire $10,000 of matching funds — meeting the $40,000 goal.

With construction planned, movies will be on hiatus until further notice. A busy arts schedule, including musicals and dramas, concerts, camps and other events, will kick off in April.

The planned improvements will result in more daytime and evening classes, workshops and a more professional space for performances.

For information, or to make a donation, send mail to RFA, P.O. Box 333, Rangeley, ME 04970, or visit www.rangeleyarts.org.

The RFA is a nonprofit organization bringing the arts to life in the Rangeley Lakes Region.