The Belmont Cinema receives £70,000 funding boost from Aberdeen City Council
Belmont Community Cinema Ltd. are delighted to have been awarded £70,354.44 towards the planned refurbishment of the building by Aberdeen City Council.
The Place-Based Investment Programme (PBIP) funding adds further capital support to plans to reimagine, refurbish and reopen Aberdeen’s only independent cinema, putting film, education, community and customer experience at the heart of a renewed operation at the site.
The Scottish Government’s PBIP gives funding to councils to support projects which include community-led regeneration, town centre revitalisation, community wealth building, and 20 minute neighbourhoods.
Jacob Campbell, Chairperson of Belmont Community Cinema Ltd., said:
“Our team are delighted by this further show of support from Aberdeen City Council, bringing us closer to our vision of reimagining, refurbishing and reopening The Belmont as a sustainable cultural and educational hub for all to enjoy.
“The Belmont project seeks not only to preserve a beloved local asset, but also to revitalise it as a destination of choice in Aberdeen’s city centre, contributing to the local economy and bringing people in from across our city and region to experience the magic that only cinema can provide.
“Our plans align closely with the Place Based Investment Programme, as The Belmont will offer enriching opportunities for community engagement in film and in learning about filmmaking, fostering a renewed love for cinema in young and old across Aberdeen.”
Councillor Alex McLellan, convenor of Aberdeen City Council’s Finance and Resources Committee, said:
“I am delighted that Belmont Community Cinema Ltd have been awarded this grant which will be used to improve this historic building in the city centre.
“Aberdeen City Council are regenerating the city centre through investment in the City Centre and Beach Masterplan, as well as making grants available to Union Street businesses and cultural organisations such as Belmont Community Cinema Ltd.
“I look forward to seeing the works move forward which assists with the group’s ultimate goal of bringing a vibrant, independent cinema back to the city centre.”
Belmont Community Cinema Ltd was established from the ‘Save The Belmont Cinema’ campaign, following the collapse of Belmont's previous Edinburgh-based operator, Centre for the Moving Image (CMI).
To date, the campaign has raised more than £530,000 in Capex funding from a variety of sources, including grants, trusts, foundations, and from generous members of the Belmont Community.
For more information on how you can support the project, visit "How To Support".
