With a September opening in its sights, the Filmhouse has launched a fundraising campaign to support its return. It is asking people to donate £40, the cost of an annual membership, to raise the £60,000 needed to secure its future.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/filmhouse
Filmhouse has undertaken a survey of its members and regular attenders to understand the many complex issues and concerns that they would have in returning, but which has also unlocked a huge outpouring of support for it.
Juliet Tweedie, Head of Development for Filmhouse said: “We have all been so touched by the outpouring of love and support for Filmhouse since we closed our doors in March.
“The last three months have been very challenging. We have been very lucky to be able to access support from Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Government and the UK Government through the furlough scheme.
“Even with this support to help with the immediate financial strain, we anticipate that as well as a reduction in admissions when we do re-open, due to constraints on capacity in the building and changing habits of customers, we will have to invest hard cash into making the building safe and navigable for our customers and staff.
“We need your help to secure our future, so that we can continue our work as Scotland’s leading independent cinema and a hugely active charity in the city. We are a vital part of our community, and we don’t want to give up any of it.
“We recognise that this is a time of uncertainty, and other charities may be approaching you for help. We are so grateful for any donations, however large or small, and thank you for thinking of us.”
Filmhouse isn’t just a cinema. It is a charity and a community hub for film lovers across Edinburgh and the Lothians. As Scotland’s largest independent cinema, it screens over 850 wonderful films, seasons and special programmes to 200,000 people every year.
Its film education programme is attended by over 10,000 school children each year, and it seeks to inspire young film lovers through its Young Programmers initiative. Its Senior Selections programme brings together older audiences at risk of isolation.
And its Café Bar is a much-loved community space, where its famous nachos and chickpea curry have been keeping the city well-fed for over 20 years! It supports cultural programmes and partners throughout the city, and is proud to have over 5,000 members.
Independent cinemas across the UK are facing a huge challenge to reopen. Despite recent government announcements around the reopening of cinemas and the projected Phase 3 return in Scotland, the recent survey by the Independent Cinema Office found that the challenges of social distancing measures and the need for significantly reduced audience sizes means that reopening may not be viable for many.
The Filmhouse has set up a Go Fund Me page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/filmhouse
which can be accessed directly or through its website or social media channels.
Alternatively, you can send a cheque to Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9BZ.
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