Hi Elaine, please find below a press release detailing the reasons the cinema is closing prior to fundraising.
Campbeltown Picture House to close at the end of August, Campbeltown Community Business continues efforts to raise £3 million for redevelopment plans
Picture House facilities currently not sustainable due to need for restoration and improvement
Campbeltown Picture House is to close on 27th August, due to the current facilities not enabling the community run social enterprise to be commercially viable in the short term.
Despite having had its best season for ticket sales in many years, and receiving extremely positive comments from the community following the recent changes in the operation, the Picture House is in need of substantial improvement before it can become a sustainable modern cinema.
The cinema’s trading business, The Picture House, Campbeltown Limited, will be placed into voluntary liquidation on 29th August, whilst the parent organisation, Campbeltown Community Business Limited, which owns all of the Picture House’s assets, will remain intact. The volunteer Board will focus their time and endeavours to secure a current shortfall in the £3 million funding required to redevelop the facilities and create a modernised and refurbished cinema to better serve the local community in a sustainable manner.
Two full time and five part-time employees have been informed and CCB will do all it can to support employees to help them to identify and secure future employment or training opportunities.
Jane Mayo, Chairman, Campbeltown Community Business said, “Having fought long and hard to secure the future of the Picture House, with regret we have been left with no option other than to cease trading in our current form for the short term future. There have been recent successes , for example streaming live events from Andre Rieu and Monty Python and live theatre from Mull Theatre, but the building requires a significant refurbishment to meet the needs of all members of the community.
“We would like to thank all our employees, volunteers, customers and others who have supported the Picture House in recent years.
“Campbeltown Community Business will continue to fundraise to reach our development target of £3 million in funding, which will see The Picture House re-open in 2016 with a brand new second screen, a new foyer and cafe bar. We have developed a Business Plan which clearly demonstrates that a redeveloped Picture House will be able to perform much better financially and be a sustainable community enterprise. The two screen operation will allow a much expanded range of films as well as event cinema performances and even heritage related activities.”.
Rob Arthur, Interim Manager, Campbeltown Picture House who is also Managing Director of The Thurso Cinema said, “We are fully committed to supporting Campbeltown Community Business over the next two years as they aim to secure funding to re-develop and re-open The Picture House. The business needs to focus on providing a cinema for the people of Campbeltown and Kintyre which maintains the heritage of the current building and engages with all ages and all parts of the community using the latest digital technology. Significant improvements in the lobby and retail areas are envisaged to offer the community a wider range of food, snacks and drinks which, alongside a broader range of films and live events will ensure long-term sustainability for the venue. After re-development the cinema will be a significant local employer and we look forward to welcoming customers back to the Picture House on completion of re-development works.”
The final screenings at the Picture House will be held on Wednesday 27th and details can be found on
http://campbeltownpicturehouse.co.uk/Anybody looking to support the redevelopment fund can provide donations to the fundraising campaign or enter a competition to win prizes here -
http://pick-a-peck.co.uk/<Ends>
For further information please contact the CCB board by email in the first instance at:
CCBBoard@yahoo.co.uk