Cinema receives £28,000 for improvements
Oban Phoenix Cinema started the New Year in high spirits after receiving a cash injection of £28,000.
The community-owned cinema has received £22,000 from the Crerar Trust and £6,000 from Oban Common Good Fund.
The money will be used to repair the roof and to develop the inside of the cinema, including a new concession stand.
A post on the cinema’s social media page read: ‘We are very excited to be able to announce that we have received our first funding awards to support the development of the cinema.
‘This money will go towards refurbishing the cinema roof and developing the foyer area.
‘Thank you to all our supporters and thank you to our customers, volunteers, staff and fantastic voluntary board of directors – together we are what makes the cinema.
‘This is an exciting time for our wee community cinema.’
Oban Phoenix Cinema chairman Gary Brown told The Oban Times: ‘Those who have been to the cinema recently should have noticed an improvement in the cinema experience.
‘The board of directors has secured the services of a funding and procurement expert who will be tasked with raising funds for the development of the cinema.
‘Funding already received has ensured that the temporary fix of the cinema roof will be followed up with a full repair in the spring.
‘March should see the opening of a new concession stand in the middle area and a consultation is currently under way in how we can improve our disabled access.
‘These will improve the customer service with a view in the future to incorporate a larger screen two and to improve the facilities all round.’
Crerar Hotels owns among others the Oban Bay Hotel, the Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa, and Loch Fyne Hotel and Spa, and in the last 10 years has donated more than £4 million to community groups and charities through its trust.
Oban Common Good Fund is administered by Argyll and Bute Council and allows organisations to apply for funding towards ‘one-off ’ projects.