Hollywood Park in Burnley is one of 42 cinemas across England which is set to benefit from a multi-million-pound funding boost from the Government.
Forty-two cinemas across England will share £650,000 in the first set of allocations from a £30 million pot for independent cinemas, with more venues to receive cash in coming weeks.
The cash boost will help cinemas weather the storm and is part of the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help entertainment venues throughout the pandemic, with 14 theatres in the Reel Cinema chain, including Hollywood Park, set to share £139,958 for health and safety equipment.
The first tranche of money from the £30 million pot is being allocated by the British Film Institute on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Local MP Antony Higginbotham said:
Burnley has a rich tapestry of arts venues and that includes the Hollywood Park cinema which almost everyone will have visited at some point. Helping that get Covid-Secure through this funding will allow it to safely bring back visitors ready for the winter blockbusters which includes some big British films like the latest James Bond.
I’m continuing to work with the Government to ensure our other cultural venues, from the Mechanics through to Burnley Youth Theatre, are protected too. That’s how we’ll ensure we have the same thriving cultural sector coming out of the pandemic as we had going into it.
The Secretary of State for Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, added:
We all enjoyed the escapism of a good film during lockdown, but nothing beats the experience of the big screen. This first wave of emergency funding will help dozens of independent cinemas around the country, preserving their unique character and history for future generations.
Our Film and TV Restart Scheme will keep cameras rolling on British-made film and TV - protecting jobs, boosting this hugely important industry and giving us more great content to enjoy.
But now we need the public to pay their part too. So I urge everyone to get booking your seats and support your local cinema.
This important cash boost of more than £650,000 will help independent cinemas - the cultural organisation closest to home for so many people - weather the storm of the coronavirus pandemic.
