The Greater Binghamton area still has a long way to go before a music scene can really flourish. But one crowdfunding effort aims to chip in and help. If successful, the Twilight Cove Cinema and Arts Center could provide Greater Binghamton with a whole new music venue. It would also keep a renowned local theater out of the hands of a housing developer. And who in Binghamton doesn’t want to see that happen more often?
The Twilight Cove Cinema and Arts Center is proposed as a proper film house, which would showcase indie films, film screenings, black box theatre, drag shows, and more. And serving as a music venue for the community is certainly on the agenda as well. Plans include a larger intermediate stage with a large standing area, focused on predominantly booking local music acts.
When it’s not at work providing our community with entertainment and culture, Twilight Cove would also be used for community programming—AA meetings, club gatherings, after-school programs, and restorative relationship visits for children in foster care. This would be an all-around positive non-profit, and an incredible addition to the Greater Binghamton area as well.
Supporting the local music scene is a big part of these plans
Project visionary Sullivan J. Harris is no stranger to the local music scene, having played with The Watts, Lampshade Pink, No More Bands!, and Breakfast Beers. Harris and Twilight Cove co-founder Maureen Mecca hope to see the venue flourish with an emphasis on local acts. “We want this to be by the community, for the community,” Harris explains. “A space for the local arts scene to really thrive and grow.”
Harris adds that Twilight Cove would also embrace diversity and representation. “Inclusivity is at the forefront of our minds. We plan to provide BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other underrepresented artists priority booking, in addition to making sure the space is fully accessible to all who want to enjoy it.”
Endicott’s Cinema Saver is closing, and Twilight Cove is its only shot at salvation
Working in collaboration with the Bundy Museum of History and Art, Harris and Mecca are planning on installing their new performing arts center on familiar local turf. The locally-renowned Cinema Saver, a budget-friendly, multi-screen movie theater in Endicott, would undergo renovations to expand its artistic capacity. But don’t worry, Parlor City citizens. Harris and Mecca have every intention of embracing and honoring the Greater Binghamton community’s love for this storied institution.
“Serving my local community has been a lifelong journey,” says Mecca. “I am excited to be a part of building a space that will further the legacy of the Cinema Saver. With many years working in social service, I feel well equipped and grateful to be a part of this team.”
But there’s a catch with the proposed Twilight Cove plans. And if you’re guessing it involves some unnamed developer attempting to convert the Cinema Saver into more housing, well, that’s clearly a sign that you’re familiar with how things regrettably work in the Binghamton area.
According to Binghamton Homepage, Cinema Saver owners Amber and Bruce Gregory have nearly finalized a deal with a real estate developer who plans to do exactly what you’re worried they’ll do: transform another beloved Binghamton institution into housing. And given the track records of many of these developers—extortionate rent charged for substandard conditions by people who don’t care about the local community even slightly—we suspect a great many people would much prefer seeing the Twilight Cove Cinema and Arts Center occupy that space.
You can contribute to the Twilight Cove crowdfunding efforts via GoFundMe. If the deal between the Gregorys and the unidentified developer goes through, and we really hope it doesn’t, Twilight Cove would be a godsend for the local music scene. So wallets out and fingers crossed, folks!
