The Byrd Theatre Foundation, the owner of the Byrd, was established in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) not-for- profit corporation. Its mission is to expand the big screen experience, celebrate the art of cinema and preserve Virginia’s grand motion picture palace, with a vision to elevate the Byrd’s landmark position among American theaters as a center for film that continues to provide the broadest possible public access to exceptional cinematic experiences.