About Us
The Rivoli Arts District (RAD) is where history, film, and creativity converge in the heart of downtown La Crosse.
It all began with the Rivoli Theatre and Rivoli Building, first built in 1920—a place where the La Crosse Theatre Company brought movies to the city for the first time. Over the past century, its walls have held countless stories, memories, and dreams.
A hundred years later, in the wake of the pandemic, the Gelatt siblings—Phil, Clara, and Jonathan—set out to breathe new life into the Rivoli. With a vision to preserve its cinematic roots while opening doors for artists across the Coulee Region, they dreamed of a space that could both honor the past and inspire the future.
That vision soon met kindred spirits. Around the same time, Leigh and Teddy Eck arrived in La Crosse with a bold idea: to create a nonprofit dedicated to film education, advocacy, and production. Together, this group realized that their missions aligned. By joining forces, they could build not just a film academy, but an entire arts district—a home where artists of all kinds could work, play, and grow.
Thus, the Rivoli Arts District was born.
Today, the RAD is a nonprofit organization housed in the historic Rivoli Building. Its spaces hum with creativity:
The Artist Collective – 30+ studios where painters, makers, writers, and art-minded businesses create and collaborate.
The La Crosse Film Academy – a hub for film education, advocacy, and production.
RADtv (coming soon)– a PBS-style platform for digital creators to share their voices.
RAD Retail (coming soon) – a shop filled with merchandise, artwork, and treasures from our community.
Community Spaces – from the Rivoli Party Room to open studios, gathering rooms, and workshops, RAD is a place to connect, celebrate, and create.
All of this exists alongside a strong partnership with the historic Rivoli Theatre, the beating heart that started it all.
Welcome to the Rivoli Arts District. Or, as we like to call it, simply: the RAD.
