Jamie McGrigor MSP has today highlighted the importance of Campbeltown’s wonderfully playful cinema - the Wee Picture House – and the continuing fundraising efforts being mounted to secure its future.
The Picture House has been run by volunteers for the last 25 years through a community business. As well as being a vital community asset the cinema is one of the most important architecturally in the whole of the United Kingdom.
Speaking today Jamie McGrigor, who is also a supporter of Oban’s Phoenix cinema in Argyll, said:
‘The Picture House in Campbeltown is a fantastic community facility that offers family entertainment six days a week, 52 weeks a year in wonderful setting. I would encourage local residents and visitors to Kintyre to make use of it.
‘Campbeltown Community Business Ltd, its chairman, Jane Mayo and her volunteer Board of Directors are to be commended for their excellent work in running the cinema and for seeking to enhance customer facilities through a new enlarged kiosk and the introduction of digital and 3-D projection.
‘They have already secured some funding towards the anticipated £2.5 million cost of these projects and I wish them every success in winning additional significant support, some of which I hope might come from local and national businesses who recognise the Picture House’s importance.’
This is a clear perspective. Something unique like the Picture House can be a major part of Campbeltown’s offer to visitors if it is enabled to be as irresistible as it has the capacity to be. It is a simply glorious little cinema and both a key and a popular feature of the architectural heritage of the town.
It is in the interests of every business in the town that its attraction is maintained and developed. It will reward that, thanks to the far sighted commitment of its volunteer Board.
Jamie McGrigor’s Parliamentary Motion, tabled at Holyrood earlier today, has already drawn cross-party support.
Text of Jamie McGrigor’s motion at the Scottish Parliament
Date of Lodging: 25 April 2012
Short Title: The Picture House, Campbeltown
S4M-02699 # Jamie McGrigor () (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): That the Parliament believes that the Picture House in Campbeltown (www.weepictures.co.uk) is a much-loved and very valuable community asset for the residents of Campbeltown and Kintyre; understands that this cinema has been run by volunteers through Campbeltown Community Business Ltd for 25 years and operates six days a week, 52 weeks a year; is further aware of the architectural importance of the Picture House, which is one of the very few surviving pre-First World War cinemas in the UK and a category A listed building designed by Albert V Gardner in 1912-13 with a unique Glasgow School Art Nouveau exterior and Art Deco interior also completed by Albert V Gardner in 1935; is aware of Campbeltown Community Business Ltd’s continuing efforts to obtain funding from various sources to secure the future of the cinema and allow it to move forward with its ambitious plans to both conserve the interior and introduce digital and 3-D projection facilities; wishes it every success in attracting support, and considers that the securing of such funding is vital to the future of the cinema and would be a very fitting way to mark the centenary of the cinema in 2013.
A valued asset to Campbeltown and a source of entertainment to go out and meet people enjoying films instead of sitting at home watching television. Everyone needs to support the cinema.
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