17 December 2019
Hippodrome Cinema, Bo’ness awarded major equipment funding boost.
The Hippodrome Cinema, Bo’ness is among 10 community groups from across Scotland to receive new funding to transform the local cinema going experience. From Hawick to Peebles, local cinemas have been awarded a total of £318,058 through Screen Scotland’s Cinema Equipment Fund.
Scotland’s oldest purpose-built cinema and home to HippFest Silent Film Festival – the Hippodrome Bo’ness (run by Falkirk Community Trust) is now set to upgrade their existing projector and audio equipment with an award of £60,677, helping it to offer a still better movie experience to the next generation of film lovers.
The decisions were made by a panel consisting of Creative Scotland staff including members of Screen Scotland, Place, and Creative Industries teams. Screen Scotland’s Jennifer Armitage said:
“Community Cinema is incredibly important to Scotland’s film culture and the Cinema Equipment Fund supports our ambition to develop audiences in Scotland by increasing access to high-quality cinema provision. The fantastic organisations awarded funding in this round highlight the dedication of groups across Scotland to bring communities together and provide audiences with a diverse programme of indigenous and international films.”
Lesley O’Hare, Culture and Libraries Manager at Falkirk Community Trust, which operates the Hippodrome, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance the presentation of the Hippodrome’s regular programme and live screenings of theatre and music events, bringing 21st Century technology to this much-loved venue.
“The cinema’s provision for partially sighted customers will also be improved with new infrared receivers for audio described screenings helping to ensure that the Hippodrome is accessible to all.”
This funding boost comes hot on the heels of the Hippodrome being named as Scotland’s Best Cinema Experience at the Scottish Hospitality Awards, and its place on the hotly contended Screen International ‘Cinema of the Year’ shortlist.
