New cinema for Plymouth Arts Centre
Plymouth Arts Centre’s unique independent cinema is to relocate to a new home and double in size. A new 118-seat auditorium is to be built in Plymouth College of Art and will open to the public on 10th January 2019.
The 61-seat cinema in Looe Street enjoyed a record year in 2017, with nearly 18,000 admissions across 135 films. Its live event cinema, film festival, and regular talks by internationally renowned film makers such as director Ben Wheatley, and Oscar winners Roger Deakins and Mia Bays continue to build in popularity.
Tim Bolton, Vice Principal at Plymouth College of Art, said: “Plymouth College of Art shares many fundamental values with Plymouth Arts Centre and we have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship spanning numerous years. We welcome this opportunity to continue to collaborate with them, to enrich the arts and cultural fabric of the South West.
“We’re confident that the new, enhanced space will improve the viewing experience for cinema-goers, and hope that together our shared resources will enable Plymouth Arts Centre to continue their mission to bring independent cinema to the city.”
The withdrawal of the Arts Council England’s NPO funding for the Arts Centre in April 2018 put extreme pressure on all areas of the charity’s organisation. The Board has taken the difficult decision to sell the Arts Centre’s Looe Street building and the Trustees have reluctantly reached an unavoidable decision to halt the visual arts programme for the time being. PAC Home, the centre’s highly regarded network of artists and arts professionals, is developing plans to continue independently. Plymouth Arts Centre will be launching a major fundraising campaign to support the cinema. If you would like to donate or become a friend, visit www.plymouthartscentre.org/support-us for details.