Community Cinemas in Ayrshire Get Set To Roll Into Action

In line with the Scottish Government’s latest Covid-19 guidance, all 24 projects can now begin plans to get up and running and welcoming audiences, as soon as they’re able, from Wednesday 15 July.  

Cumnock Town Hall Community Cinema has received funding to purchase a motorised cinema projection screen, projector and supplementary equipment to expand the services provided from Cumnock Town Hall - where they are aiming to establish a year-round accessible film programme. The film programme will be created in partnership with the local community who will have the opportunity to shape the programme. 

Michelle Laats from East Ayrshire Leisure said: "This award will enable East Ayrshire Leisure to install high quality cinema equipment to allow us to provide a small cinema programme from Cumnock Town Hall. This award is a great boost for the local community and the surrounding rural areas making cinema accessible to those that most need it." 

Community arts venue The Iris Arts in Ayr will use funding to support The Iris Mobile Cinema and the purchase of equipment for the project that directly engages with local community groups and organisations across South Ayrshire, providing an entertaining, thought provoking and informative cinematic programme for audiences in the region. The Iris Mobile Cinema will run five regular monthly screenings programmed in part by a team of volunteers that accurately represents marginalised communities in the area. 

Screen Scotland’s Jennifer Armitage said: “This round of awards concludes the year-long programme of capital investment in cultural and community cinemas in Scotland. When we launched the Cinema Equipment Fund last year, we had no idea what 2020 was going to bring but investing in the resilience of Scotland’s film exhibition sector is more important than ever. When Scotland’s cinemas reopen, they will be able to offer high quality experiences, with varied programmes, and within local communities.” 

Joan McAlpine MSP for South of Scotland said: “I’m delighted to hear that community run cinemas in the south of Scotland have been awarded grants from the Cinema Equipment Fund. Cinemas have been badly hit by the pandemic so this will be a very welcome boost.

“This funding will enable these cinemas to upgrade their facilities to a much higher standard. Hopefully this will encourage more visitors once the threat of coronavirus transmission is low enough for them to re-open again.”