Acclaimed cinema and lifeline community hub facing closure
THE Black Country’s only independent cinema is facing closure with its chief executive cleaning tables and washing glasses in a bid to keep it open.
Last month Wolverhampton’s Light House was named Community Contributor of the Year in the city’s annual independent retail awards.
But just a day after it received the community gong, bosses there announced the centre was facing possible closure due to a long-term lack of funding.
The two-screen cinema and cafe lost an annual grant of around £74,000 from cash-strapped City of Wolverhampton Council in 2015 and has struggled to stay open ever since.
The venue, based in the city’s historic Chubb Buildings, has annual running costs of between £600,000 and £700,000.
The news of the latest cash crisis comes despite Light House seeing an increase in admissions of 12 per cent over the past year.
Chief executive Kelly Jeffs told the Birmingham Post it just wasn’t enough.
She said: “As a cinema, we’re growing quickly, but as a charity we just haven’t climbed far enough out of the huge hole the grant loss gave us after being partly funded for 25 years.”
She said running costs were now down to the bone. She is one of just two full-time staff, along with operations manager Jas Kapur.
“We’re all doing what we can. I am cleaning tables and washing glasses myself.”
As well as showing mainstream cinema releases, the centre is used by charity and community groups as well as the University of Wolverhampton.
The cultural hub is also hired out for film launches, political and even live TV debates.
Ms Jeffs, who has worked at the venue for over 20 years, said many locals also saw it as a community “lifeline” and she spoke of her frustration at the dire funding situation.
“We’re doing all the things the government and society want us to do – engaging with the lonely and socially isolated, working with events youth, mental health and fostering groups and enabling community cohesion through free language cafes. “People come here for a friendly face and a chat, then learn about the world through a film they might not see on general release.” She said the response from customers and supporters since the funding crisis announcement and the subsequent launch of social media campaign #SaveLightHouse had been “very, very postiive”. Individual donations of up to £500 have been received over the past few days. “It lets us know we’re not alone,” she added. Marketing manager Julie Rennison said attendance had also increased. “This last week has been one of the best we’ve had in a long time. We’re showing Mamma Mia 2 at the moment so it could be the effect of that – but we think people have just decided to come to us instead of going to a multiplex.” Ms Jeffs stressed that though the increased support from customers was vital, investment from local businesses was essential to keep Light House going.
She added: “The money we are looking for really is from local businesses who have corporate responsibility for the city who want to keep this place going for our community. We’d love to work with more busi- nesses to sponsors.
Light House supporters have taken to social media to express their concerns over the venue’s future.
Wolverhampton resident Steve Bradley said Light House was vital in a city “not normally associated with cultural awareness”.
“With the city’s Civic Halls currently closed with no sign of reopening, there will be very few affordable entertainment options left in the city if Light House closes.”
Janine Allen said: “I love this cinema and try to visit weekly. I detest the multiplex experience. The Light House is just so much more personal and feels so much like a treat. More funding please...We can’t lose this valuable asset.”
Donations can made via localgiving.org/charity/lovelighthouse/.
To discuss sponsorship call Ms Jeffs on 01902 716 055 or email kelly@light-house.co.uk become partners and
We’d love to work with more businesses to become partners and sponsors Light House’s Kelly Jeffs