The Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center
The Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center is a theater found within the confines of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln campus. The two screen theater is a regular venue for many different kinds of documentaries, independent feature and short films, and international films. The Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center in Lincoln, Nebraska also doubles as an area for class lectures in the Fine and Performing Arts program.
In 1964, the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery was opened in Lincoln, Nebraska. It had a projection booth and an auditorium available for screening and educational purposes. During the time however, film exhibition was limited. Then in 1990, a longtime supporter of the theater and New York City resident Mary Riepma Ross started and established a trust for the construction of a more complete center for media and arts. The theater was named after her, honoring her generous $3.5 million gift. The construction began in June 2001, and later opened in December of 2003.
The Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center’s two screens are rigged with the latest, state of the art digital projectors. These digital projectors are also the first ever found in any university campus. Both theaters are also equipped with modern audio in the form of Dolby Digital EX, which was a donation by the company Dolby. The larger theater seats 236, while the smaller one can accommodate up to 106 people.