Rural Cinema Pilot Scheme

Our three-year rural cinema pilot scheme runs until 2013 and is focusing on Shropshire, Wiltshire and the Test Valley, and North Yorkshire. A nationwide consultation told us that these areas had the least access to cinema experiences.

Through the pilot we’re putting £1.2 million of Lottery funding towards digital projection equipment for special screenings in venues such as village and town halls, arts centres and other community spaces.

Please note this scheme is now closed.

The background

In 2009, the UK Film Council launched the application process and asked local organisations including mobile cinema operators, festivals, film societies, arts centres and public bodies to collaborate.

All the applicants presented a three-year budgeted business strategy to the UK Film Council for developing rural cinema in their region. They had to show how the funding would significantly improve the quality or presentation and range of films available to rural areas, and what benefit audience development work, training and other activities would have.

The scheme was launched in April 2010 for three years, and the data that’s collected will be shared with everyone involved to see whether it might work on a bigger scale.

You can see the data so far at ruralcinema.org. For more information, please read the scheme strategy document and information from the Rural Cinema Conference in September 2012.