$25M Reimagined Rialto Proposed In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — For the past 100 years, the Rialto has stood in the center of Westfield. Now a group of volunteers are looking to reimagine the entire building to create an art destination for Town.

This reimagined vision will come with a price tag of upward of $25 million and they need the community's support to achieve it.

President of the Board of the Westfield Arts Collective Bill Crandall present to the Town Council the nonprofit group's vision for the space.

"We are creating a home for our community to create, showcase, and enjoy the arts, all kinds of arts. That’s from live music performances to art classes to podcast recordings to formats that haven't even been invented yet. And yes of course movies," said Crandall.

Essentially, Crandall said they want to create a space for community members to be able to drop in at any time.

"A community living room for the arts, if you will, for people to be able to come by and see what’s going on at the Rialto as well as buying tickets for shows and for classes," said Crandall.

The Rialto, at 250 E Broad St., Westfield, closed as a movie theater in 2019. In 2020, the Westfield Council passed a resolution designating the Rialto as an area of redevelopment.

In 2021, the nonprofit group the Westfield Arts Collective was founded to purchase the Rialto.

Later that year, the group received a $5 million donation from an anonymous donor.

Now the group is looking forward to reimagining the space.

"The key will be flexible spaces — always mapping to the community's need," said Crandall.

The group hired multiple different professionals and experts and met with local arts organizations, businesses, and community groups to see how best they would use the Rialto.

The new space would feature a large performance space area with retractable walls and seating, rental classroom space, a cafe, and more.

The cost on top of the $5 million donation already received is estimated to be upward of $25 million, said Crandall.

"We know it is a bold vision and we state that up front but the arts are bold and that’s why we are here," said Crandall.

A fundraising consultant was hired and the group is seeking potential donors while also seeking grants. Currently, Crandall said they are working with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and their Cultural Arts Facilities Expansion(CAFE) Program, which works to fund the proliferation of the arts.

In the meantime, the Rialto will open its doors in a limited capacity to host some events to raise awareness for their cause and funds. The first event is expected sometime in the summer.

"The one thing that was very important to us, that we wanted to make sure that we did, is open the doors because there's no reason why we can't start celebrating the arts in a limited capacity," said Crandall.

Kiki Malik, a Board member of the Westfield Arts Collective, said they have a very good chance of being successful with the CAFE program grant.

"This big large government grant with the CAFE program we are a stellar candidate for it and really it's ours to lose. We are doing all the hard work on our end and hope the council will support us on this project," said Malik.

That application goes live in the spring and they should know the outcome in the fall or winter.

It will then take 13 months for architectural plans before shovels go in the ground and then another eight months to complete the project, said Malik.

"We are still several years out before we have a finished building," said Malik. "We want to be an anchor to our town, it would start an arts district. It would draw people all over so economically. It would be a huge boost to our businesses."

Councilwoman Linda Habgood encouraged residents to support the project and the important of donating early to the project

"I have to imagine that it helps a lot for us to donate early to this project as a bolster to the grant application," said Habgood. "Help us reimage the Rialto."

Malik also made a call for help from the community.

"If you have ever been working on a campaign, worked for a nonprofit, if you are well-connected in the community, if you sit on a foundation or know someone that does, this is the start of our campaign," said Malik, who asked community members to reach out. "We are asking for help to get to the point where we can put shovels in the ground."

For more information on the Rialto project or to donate visit centerforcreativity.art.

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