Reel Cinemas – which includes the cinema complex in Burnley has been given a £1.5m. grant from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
The latest final round of grants includes £13.5 million to revive heritage sites across England and more than £5 million to support independent cinemas.
Reel Cinemas, which is developing new multiplexes in Blackburn and Burnley town centres, has received the cash to support its existing 13 sites.
Commenting on the latest news local MP Antony Higginbotham said,
I know how much people enjoy visiting the local cinema and how important it is to the community.
The news that Reel Cinema has received further financial assistance through the Cultural Recovery Fund is very welcome. It means that once we get through this period we can ensure that we have the same thriving cultural sector coming out of the pandemic as we had going into it
Major grants have also gone to 33 cinemas and The Light Cinema chain. The grant recipients were chosen by the British Film Institute.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
From restoring Georgian lidos and Roman baths to saving local screens and synagogues, our Culture Recovery Fund is helping to save the places people can’t wait to get back to, when it is safe to do so.
KC Suri, Head of Reel Cinemas, said:
It has been very important to us to pursue all opportunities to protect the jobs of every staff member at Reel Cinemas, and to enable the cinemas to reopen, when permitted, to continue to serve our communities.
This is why we want to thank the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the BFI who have awarded us this grant. This vital funding will enable us to protect job security and to manage our business sustainability at this challenging time.
