Cinema and arts centre to celebrate first anniversary
Celebrations are underway as the Southsea Cinema and Arts Centre gets set to turn one this week.
Portsmouth Film Society has been on a journey since opening up the community cinema and arts centre last May. But despite challenges that have arisen, the team of volunteers are excited to be celebrating the centre’s first birthday.
The centre, which opened on May 19, 2022, was set up to offer a safe space where people can explore and experience art, music, films, theatre and entertainment.
To celebrate the birthday of the community space, a salsa night is being held on Friday. Everyone is welcome to attend and get involved in the festivities.
The dancing event, which is being held at the centre, will run from 5pm until midnight and tickets cost £8, which will include a dancing lesson and a social afterwards where DJ
Katanga will be playing. There will be two dance lessons, one for beginners which will start at 5.30pm, and one for intermediates which will begin at 6.30pm.
Aysegul Epengin, managing director of the Portsmouth Film Society and the cinema manager, said: ‘We are, first and foremost, ever so grateful to those volunteers who helped and supported.
‘We would not have made it to this point without their invaluable help.
‘We are in the process of applying to be a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), with which we will get stronger and stronger.
‘Our aim is to use film as a medium and educational tool, and to be a central art destination in Southsea. We will be sharing our cinema and arts programmes, including for inclusivity and diversity, with our patrons.’
The team has been organising a range of events over the past year, including a Pride LGBT event and film festival, and is always looking for ways to improve the service on offer.
This summer, there will be a drive-in cinema experience at Southsea Common on July 21, where the film Top Gun: Maverick will be showing on the big screen.
The Southsea Cinema and Arts Centre volunteers and managing director would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported them over the past year.
For more information about the community centre and upcoming events, visit southseacinema.co.uk.