Emergency funding to secure cinema’s future

Campbeltown Picture House (CPH) is one of four independent cinemas in Argyll to benefit from £3.55 million of emergency funding from the Scottish Government’s Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund and The National Lottery, through Screen Scotland to secure their immediate future.

Campbeltown Community Business Ltd, the charitable organisation that owns and operates CPH, was given £65,000, while The Tower Digital Arts Centre in Helensburgh received £81,328, West Coast Cinemas LLP, which owns Studio Cinema in Dunoon and Waterfront Cinema in Greenock, received £244,441 and Oban Phoenix Cinema received £61,818.

Regional Screen Scotland’s mobile cinema, the Screen Machine, which operates across the Scottish Highlands and Islands, Western Isles, North Ayrshire and Argyll and Bute, received £24,521.

Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for culture, said: ‘We understand the severe impact this pandemic has had on businesses across Scotland, including our independent cinemas which play such an important role in communities across the country.

‘We have had to make some really difficult decisions recently that will impact on cinemas which have worked so hard to reopen safely, but we have to put health considerations above everything else and I hope this funding, along with the business support that will be available, will help independent cinemas cope with all the challenges they face.’

Ellen Mainwood, manager at CPH, said: ‘We’re delighted to receive this generous grant from the Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund which will allow us to continue to maintain this important and historical building, as well as trade safely within the current guidelines.

‘This year has hit independent cinema hard, as it has everyone, so this grant provides essential support to allow the survival of the Picture House for residents and visitors.’

David Mayo, chairman of the board of directors of Campbeltown Community Business Ltd, added: ‘I’d like to express the heartfelt appreciation of all the directors for this extremely generous support towards the survival of the town’s iconic and muchloved community asset.

‘This is yet a further example of the many organisations and local individuals that have rallied to help CPH through these difficult times.’