In 1974, the Fox Theatre reached a low point in its history, and the president announced that its doors were closed forever. The people of Atlanta went into uproar, and then, the nation. The Fox was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. Since that time, the Fox Theatre has lived up to its promise to maintain the theatre and give back to the community that saved it. Its community engagement programs, like Fox in a Box, support the organization’s mission to preserve and share the Fox Theatre.
- Fox in a Box is an interactive school exhibit that intersects important events in the Fox Theatre’s timeline with key classroom lessons, from American history and the Civil Rights Movement to economics and the importance of communities.
- Elementary students are challenged to think about how communities come together to share an experience and to protect what’s important to them.
- The original, larger version of the exhibit is 8’ tall and sits atop a 24’x24’ carpet. The structure is comprised of an aluminum frame, images printed on fabric panels, and interactive elements.
- The pop-up exhibit consists of two 8’x8’ and one 10’x10’ fabric panels and aluminum tubing.
- At the end of the experience, students complete some fun timeline, story writing, and creative drawing activities and have a class picture taken on the photo wall.
- Principal Katherine Kelbaugh of The Museum School in Avondale Estates says, “Our students thoroughly enjoyed the informative and interactive Fox in a Box experience. Students had the opportunity to witness standards and curriculum in an authentic real world setting. Fox in a Box truly brings history to life.”
- In the 2018-2019 school year, Fox in a Box served over 8,000 students in over 37 schools throughout metro-Atlanta.
- Since launching in December 2014, nearly 29,800 participants have experienced Fox in a Box, and the program is excited to continue sharing the Fox’s story with Atlanta’s children!
