New Life for Old Cinema?

Archive Sections
	General News
	Local Groups' Activities
	Business & Finance
	Property Pointers
	Travel & Getaway
	Health & Wellbeing
	Art, Media & Craft
	Music / Performance
	Event Reviews
	Wildlife/Environment
	Sporting Activities
	Horticulture
	Hoots and Havers
	Guest Columns
	Useful Links
	Comment Online

New Life for Old Cinema?

OLDER PEOPLE in the Upper Tay community may well remember going out for an evening at the Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy. For some, travelling to Aberfeldy was often undertaken by public transport, as at that time there were regular bus services between the town and outlying areas. However, the decline in public transport and the growth in home-based entertainment saw the demise of the Birks cinema, along with many others of its kind. In the early 1980s the cinema closed, and has latterly been an amusement arcade.

Today, sited in a prominent position in Aberfeldy town square, the former Birks Cinema is for sale, and a group of local people is championing that it be purchased on behalf of the community. It would be converted into an up-to-date facility, and managed as a community cinema.

The intention would be for the cinema to show a range of films, old and new, appealing to a wide ranging audience, including young people. There are examples around the country of community-owned cinemas, including Curzon in Cleveden near Bristol, and Campbelltown on the Mull of Kintyre.

An inaugural meeting of the 'Friends of the Birks Cinema' will be held on Saturday 8 April at 11.30am in the Fountain Bar in the Square. All with an interest are encouraged to attend the short meeting to constitute the body and develop some ideas further or register support for the proposal.

PUSH

The facilities at the Birks, would include a café, and the cinema group is working with the local ‘PUSH’ group jointly to further these proposals. PUSH is a voluntary organisation pushing for social inclusion for people with learning disabilities. The organisation saw the need to fill in gaps in provision in service in Highland Perthshire, and for that reason developed the concept of a training cafe. Since opening in the Aberfeldy Recreation Centre in December, 12 people with learning disabilities are working as apprentices.

With the imminent rebuilding of the new school, PUSH is exploring different options, at least for the short term. For PUSH, the community cinema is as an exciting possibility.

Funding Plan

In order to access funds for purchasing and converting the Birks cinema, a feasibility study is required. This would facilitate and examine the building conservation plan, proposals for converting the building, the cost of purchasing and renovation works, a business plan for running the building and last, (but not least!), evaluate community need and market demand. This is our current position.

The ‘Friends of The Birks Cinema’ Group would welcome additional support and assistance, as we are very much at the beginning of our journey! If you would like to tell us more about the Birks Cinema in its heyday, register an interest in the project, or are able to play a more active role within the group, please contact us on one of the numbers below. We would be delighted to hear from you.