Oban Phoenix Cinema: 2012 – help work for an Easter re-opening

Following its 2011 purchase of the former Highland Theatre cinema in Oban, Oban Phoenix Cinema has published it’s plans from now to a planned opening at Easter – subject to the odd interventions of Murphy’s Law.

The plans are of course for the repair and refurbishment of the much loved cinema and are reassuringloy businesslike and hard headed.

The important thing is first class project management in order to act against mission drift.

The organisers know that the current economic times are hard, that there is a limit to what they can reaslitically hope for in free work given by local tradesfolk and that aspects of the work will have to be paid for. They also know that genuine offers of free work have to take second place in the batting order to paid work elsewhere – and that this can move deadlines backwards.

There is work that absolutely rrequires professionals to do and there is wokr that can be done by community effort.

They have to bring all this together and manage it to a successful conclusion by Easter, It sounds as if they are determined to do it and are on top of the job.

They will need all the help they can get and it would clearly be helpful for folk – including tradesfolk, to promise only what they know they can deliver – and when and how they will be in a posiiton to do so.

This is a fabulous community resource. The effort to save it got under way fast and strongly as soon as its potential loss was known There has been a real community vigour behind the initiative – and a joyfulness that reflects the role of a cinema in a community.

Details of the planned work programme

• Revamp the front of the building (new windows, refurbish the doors, lights and paint)
• Revamp the concession area (new tills, food sales i.e. popcorn, hot dogs etc, paint, lights) This includes a new ceiling because of water damage from a burst pipe.
• Revamp the toilets (new ceiling, new tiles, cistern refurbishments, new plumbing, cold storage tanks, hot water refurb, pipe lagging etc)
• Revamp the foyer area with new paint, carpets, lighting and seating
• Revamp cinema 1 ( new floor, new seats, new carpets, better lighting etc
• While these are some of the things that are very apparent to the eye, there is a lot more work out with the context of the cinema that needs done.  There are roof repairs, asbestos management, plastering, roofing, guttering, landscaping, fire procedures, disabled access, alarms, store rooms, digital equipment installation

It’s not hard to see the hills to be climbed before Easter.

The organises make it clear that: ‘We still need help and we still need to raise money; to achieve an open cinema, remedial works need to be completed.  In order for that to happen we need money.

‘We have been receiving grants and help from government and European bodies, but these are often for specific things, so our local fundraising is paramount to succeeding in other areas.’

Understanding what stage the cinema is at  may help locals to see the urgent need to contribute. Ffrom the outside, the cinema may look the same but inside it, the level of work that has to be done at admin level, before works are carried out, is immense.  Good planning takes time and effort but ensures that a good job is done.

Rushing into action without proper planning wastes money, time and effort and can leave difficult legacies in unthought elements. It is to the organisers credit that the mantra is ‘slow and steady’.

When folk volunteer to pack bags at Tesco, or buy a table for theo rganisation’s  bring and buy sale, this is all a real help and it is these types of events that boost of finances for all the other things that go unnoticed and uncovered by the larger funding bodies.  A successful bring and buy sale would raise enough for the planned pop corn machine.  3 events of this kind would add Hot Dogs and Nachos to the list (if that’s what you like).

Every little contruibtion is of real help in getting this job done and the cinema back in action for Oban and for Oban’s visitors.

Planned events and ways you can help

Oban Phoenix Cinema lists the following:

• Bring and Buy sale on Saturday 28th January at the Corran Halls.  Phone 07557905414 or email info@obanphoenixcinema.co.uk to book a table for £10
• TESCO Bag Packing Volunteers needed. Please e-mail info@obanphoenixcinema.co.uk and volunteer for one of these time slots 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm. This is going to be a BIG fundraiser and we would really appreciate your help.
• More events will be posted as they happen, but take this opportunity to voice your opinion or questions or even any suggestions.  We have a board meeting next week and would be helpful to take community input to the table to discuss.  Please take a look at the areas below, suggesting something that might be bettered:
• What medium is the best for getting information out there ( we have available the OT, Oban FM, Web site, Facebook, Twitter and mailing list)  we advertise locally with posters too, any other suggestions?  Can we get to the far reaches another way or are those who say they don’t know what’s going on in the minority?
• Do you have a fundraising idea that you would like to see implicated?

Any questions, suggestions or requests for information should be emailed to: info@obanphoenixcinema.co.uk

The group are asking everyone to use and pass on this email address.  They dol;t want to hear anyone saying they’ve  not been involved. They are inviting involvement of all kinds and are very open to suggestions..  The organising team has worked to be very proactive and say: ‘We welcome your productivity in any way you feel will benefit the project as a whole.’