Culture Recovery Fund

14 Northern cinemas feature in the first round of awards

Published: 14 Oct 2020

Cash boost for Northern cinemas impacted by Covid-19 pandemic.


Earlier this month, the BFI announced the first recipients of the UK government’s Culture Recovery Fund for Independent Cinemas in England. We were pleased to see 14 sites in the North listed among the 42 awardees, representing a much-needed cash boost for vital community and cultural assets all across the region – from Widnes to Whitley Bay.
Cinemas in our network supported in this first round of funding include Keswick’s historic Alhambra Cinema, a pair of family-run independents in Greater Manchester – the Savoy Cinema, Heaton Moor and the Rex Cinema, Wilmslow – as well as Sheffield’s cinephile haven, the Showroom Cinema.

 Being able to reopen the doors to one of Sheffield’s independent cultural venues has felt like the first step in our recovery after a difficult six months. Brendan Moffett – Showroom Cinema

The Culture Recovery Fund offers independent cinemas in England two types of support: Safety Grants to help cinemas make their venues safe for staff and audiences; and Business Sustainability Grants to allow organisations to reopen and reach a break-even point whilst operating under restricted conditions.

 

 We are delighted to have been awarded a Safety Grant from the Culture Recovery Fund. It will enable the management to prepare the cinema so that it fully conforms to the Covid-19 safety protection guidelines. Brenda and Barrie Stead – Hollywood Plaza Cinema, Scarborough

These first awards make up £650,000 of the Fund’s £30million total pot. Applications for both Safety and Business Sustainability Grants are open until 30 October. With the majority of funding still to be awarded and the ongoing challenges facing exhibitors, we encourage all eligible cinemas in the North to consider submitting an application. Full funding guidelines and additional information can be found on the BFI website.

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Culture Fund Recipients in the North


  • Hollywood Plaza Cinema, Scarborough
  • Jam Jar Cinema, Whitley Bay
  • Keswick Alhambra Cinema, Keswick
  • Reel Cinemas - Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley, Hull, Morecambe, Rochdale, Wakefield, Widnes
  • Rex Cinema, Wilmslow
  • Savoy Cinema, Heaton Moor
  • Showroom Cinema, Sheffield

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