Creative Pinellas, Green Light Cinema, and The Common Thread Yarn Shop & Café have launched Craft Club Cinema. This monthly series allows attendees to work on crafts while watching movies. The series begins Sunday, August 30, at 2 p.m. The opening show will be 50 First Dates at the 80-seat theater located at 221 2nd Ave. North.
Screenings run with lower volume and brighter lights than typical showings. Lap desks and task lights get handed out to attendees who bring knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, sketch pads, or coloring books.
This approach is called ADHD Cinema. It’s a growing movement. Neurodivergent people and multitaskers can watch films while keeping their hands busy. The setup removes the requirement to sit still in darkness and silence.
According to I Love the Burg, Craft Club Cinema falls under the new Creative Wellbeing initiative from Creative Pinellas, which taps into the area’s arts community to boost mental wellness, comfort, and joy.
Green Light Cinema runs as an independent theater in St. Pete. The venue agreed to host the monthly series with accommodations for people who need to move or work with their hands during films.
September’s screening will show The Princess Bride on the 20th. October closes out with Cocoon on the 25th. All showings start at 2 p.m.
The Common Thread Yarn Shop & Café partnered with the other two organizations to create the series, bringing together film fans and craft communities in one space.