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The Goal |
In February 2026, a group of Dunedin business professionals gathered to form The Fortune Trust. The principal purpose of the trust is to raise funds to restore, reopen and maintain the historic building known as the Fortune Theatre. The new Fortune will not be a theatrical company and a building (as before) but a state of the art, multipurpose venue for hire.
Most notably, the Trust will not seek direct funding from the City for the restoration. Rather, funds will be raised by soliciting private charitable donations. It is the aim of the Trust to add a 200 seat venue to the ecosystem of the arts community without detracting from the City's long term plan of building a new 400 seat Performing Arts Centre and restoring some of Dunedin's other beloved theatrical venues.
A Sustainable
Business Model
In May 2026, Trustees established a not-for-profit company — At The Fortune Limited — for the sole purpose of managing the venue and making it available to the arts community of Dunedin for the widest possible use. Through the legal protection of the company, the Trustees will conduct the business of raising funds and restoring the building. When the restoration is complete, the Company will employ a minimal number of staff to operate the Fortune.