As the Rex Community Theater continues its journey of restoration, their endeavor to give back to the community who gives to them, continues as well. The Thompson Falls Film and Theater Foundation, was awarded a Reimagine Rural grant from the Montana State University (MSU) Extension Service. MSU Extension describes the Reimagining Rural Initiative as a collaborative, innovative effort to create opportunities that support small-town leaders building vibrant futures for their communities.

“We went to a workshop put on by MSU Extension,” said Deb Wilson, with the Rex Theater. “The grant was available to all participants.” The Rex Theater was awarded a $1,300 grant with the help of Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC), and the Sanders County Extension Office. “Ray Brown with SCCDC and Juli Thurston with MSU Extension worked with me to help attain the grant,” Wilson said.

The Rex has invited the third-grade classes from Thompson Falls, Plains and Noxon to participate in a project with the theme of, “if I owned the Rex, I would…” A letter sent out this week to teachers of the participating classes described the project. “We are encouraging the classes to let their creative juices flow and come up with a song, skit, posters, story, whatever they choose and make a presentation at the Rex Theater,” the letter stated

Each school that participates and presents their ideas will receive $400 for their classroom for art and music supplies. “We are all about the arts, we want the kids to be empowered, to be creative,” Wilson stated. “We didn’t want there to be too many parameters for the project. That’s the beauty of art, right?” The students will make their presentations to the Rex board members, as well as their students’ teachers and families. “Just think what they could do with that money,” Wilson expressed. “This is the age when kids are starting to develop their creative thinking.”

The third-grade classes will have until March to finish their projects. A presentation schedule was included in this week’s letter that was sent out, and in traditional theater style, popcorn and soda will be available to the students and their families. As for what those presentations will look like, well, that will be up to the students. “We’re empowering them to make those decisions,” Wilson said. “We just want to fund it.”