Our asks of Scottish Parliamentary Candidates 2026
Everyone loves the Belmont - and reopening Aberdeen's only independent cinema would enable us to restore this important venue in the city centre, providing a key cultural draw and an important boost to the local economy on Belmont Street and beyond.
It would support jobs in the creative sector and create opportunities for skills development, volunteering, and education at the same time. The cinema would once again offer access to independent, international, and culturally significant films that are not widely available elsewhere for the benefit of all.
Our three key asks for Scottish Parliamentary Candidates before Thursday 7 May
We are delighted that our campaign enjoyed sustained and enthusiastic cross-party support from all parties throughout Session 6 of the Scottish Parliament. That’s why we’re asking all candidates standing for election to Session 7 of the Parliament to commit to three key actions for our cinema:
Champion the Belmont as a priority project for Aberdeen and make a clear public commitment to advocate for it, work with national and local partners, and support efforts to secure the remaining funding required to reopen our local, independent cinema.
Campaign for increased capital investment in our cultural infrastructure and publicly state your support for dedicated, accessible funding streams that enable projects like the Belmont to move from planning to delivery.
Support reform of the cultural funding landscape and publicly commit to improving sustainability, including better alignment between national funding programmes and local regeneration priorities, and more stable, coordinated funding approaches that reduce the burden on organisations.
What can Belmont Supporters do to help?
Our biggest strength is the depth of the community that we have around the Belmont. Our community are passionate champions of our cinema, with a clear and shared belief that the Belmont must reopen sustainably and be allowed to thrive at the heart of Aberdeen’s cultural life.
That’s why we are encouraging supporters of the Belmont to contact their local candidates ahead of the election on Thursday 7 May, asking them to commit to our three asks.
You can do this by emailing your candidates, engaging with them on social media, or raising the issue whenever they are out canvassing in your area. Asking candidates directly to back the Belmont’s three key asks for this election ensure that the future of the Belmont remains a visible and urgent priority throughout this election campaign.
We also encourage supporters to share why the Belmont matters to them personally. Whether it’s memories of films, festivals, or community events, these stories demonstrate the real impact the cinema has had - and will have again - on people and the city.
By working together and making our voices heard, we’ll make sure we secure the commitments needed from our politicians to reopen the Belmont and to restore it as a vital cultural asset for everyone in Aberdeen to enjoy.