
The Chincoteague Island Arts Organization (CIAO) is a 501(3)c nonprofit organization, incorporated in Virginia as a non-profit in December 2011. CIAO was created to save, utilize and maintain the vintage Island Theatre as a cultural arts center for Chincoteague, offering a unique downtown venue for events.
Now beautifully renovated, the Island Theatre (formerly the Island Roxy), offers first-run movies during the summer season and classic films in winter... as well as concerts, plays and all kinds of other entertainment. The theater aims to please the local community and visitors alike with a diverse selection of exciting events!
The Annex is a new small performance space adjacent to the theater, perfect for educational programs, lectures, classes, and community or business meetings. It also hosts CIAO's fun weekly events like Game Day Mondays. Give us a call or check out our event schedule below for dates, times and descriptions.
CIAO was created to save, utilize and maintain the vintage Island Theatre and Theatre Annex as cultural arts centers for Chincoteague, offering unique downtown venues for films, concerts, events and gatherings.
Help us to continue to achieve these goals in the future by making a tax-deductible contribution to our organization. Donate through the PayPal button below or simply mail to:
Chincoteague Island Arts Organization
P.O. Box 1217
Chincoteague, VA 23336
WE THANK YOU!
Every March, the Museum of Chincoteague Island partners with the Chincoteague Island Arts Organization (CIAO), the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance (CCA), Chincoteague Island Library, the Chincoteague Natural History Association, Assateague National Seashore, and the Virginia Barrier Islands Center to celebrate Heritage Days on Chincoteague! Each year there's a different theme to honor the rich history of the island.
Stay tuned for more information on what's happening this year!
CIAO proudly presents the independent film "M & M Smith: For Posterity's Sake" commemorating Black History Month... If you missed it or would like to watch it again, please join enjoy this inspiring documentary for an additional week on our YouTube channel.
Marvin and Morgan Smith, twin brothers with amazing artistic talent and driving ambition, left rural Kentucky in 1933 and headed to New York where they learned professional photography. In 1939 they established a photography studio adjacent to Harlem's legendary Apollo Theatre, and it quickly became a hub for leading Black entertainers, musicians, artists and writers.
Special thanks to independent filmmaker Heather Lyons-Long for permitting us to use her film. Enjoy this rare glimpse of an important and unique piece of black history with us. Runtime: 57 minutes.
As you pass by the Island Theatre in the evening, you may have noticed that our portion of Main Street is a lot brighter now. Our marquee and showcases have been updated with a new lighting system. The theatre doors have been stripped of many coats of paint, and they now are back to the original natural wood finish. Enjoy the glow.
We are working hard in several ways to bring you new entertainment. The Island Theatre is being cleaned, and a new air filtration system has been installed anticipating the go-ahead to start first-run films once again. We will let you know when films and live performances will resume.
LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!
Are you a theater lover? A cinema buff? A film aficionado? Does the smell of hot popcorn or the taste of Milk Duds evoke fond memories? Then join our great team of dedicated volunteers at the Island Theatre and the Annex! We can use your help, now and when we're up and running again... in the theater at the front of the house, backstage behind the curtain, or in the Annex with all sorts of activities. Call us at (757)702-2170, leave your contact info and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you for your continued support!
Thanks for visiting our website... for inquiries about our upcoming events, send us a message. We'll get back to you as soon as possible!
Proud member of the Historic Main Street Merchants of Chincoteague
and the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce
4074 Main Street, Chincoteague Island, Virginia 23336
Call (757) 702-2170 Email ciao@ciarts.net