Lifeline funding confirmed for Bo'ness Hippodrome

Just like the white hatted heroes of the old action serials the Hope Street cinema used to show back in the day, the cash boost provided by the government’s Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund – as well as The National Lottery through Screen Scotland – has arrived in the nick of time.

The Bo'ness Hippodrome netted just over £50,000 from the £3.5million safety net announced this week.

It was one of 30 independent cinemas and two touring operators serving communities across Scotland which will share in the pot which aims to bridge the immediate financial gap faced by independently owned cinemas as a result of COVID-19.

The money will now support these cinemas to operate in the short-term, within Scottish Government guidelines, and help others towards reopening, when it is safe to do so.

Lesley O’Hare, Falkirk Community Trust culture and libraries manager, said: “We are delighted to have received this funding award. It will provide much need support over the coming months as we work towards re-opening the Hippodrome.

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“We are very much looking forward to welcoming audiences back to the cinema experience when it is safe and we are permitted to do so.”

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture added: “We understand the severe impact this pandemic has had on businesses across Scotland, including our independent cinemas which play such an important role in communities across the country.

“We have had to make some really difficult decisions recently that will impact on cinemas which have worked so hard to re-open safely, but we have to put health considerations above everything else and I hope this funding, along with the business support that will be available, will help independent cinemas cope with all the challenges they face.

“Culture is vitally important to all of our lives, and we are determined to do everything within our powers to see the sector through this crisis. This fund is part of the ongoing financial support the Scottish Government is making available to the sector.”

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