We have just received the following press release.
‘The Board of Campbeltown Community Business Limited regrets to announce that their application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for funding for The Centenary Project has been rejected.
‘We are hugely disappointed and feel that our precious building and business is now in peril. We were excited by the plan we had put forward, and genuinely feel that it provided a sustainable future for both our historic cinema and its business.
‘The Board has been extremely grateful for all the support it has received over the past few months, from the general public, from Argyll & Bute Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the LEADER programme. It has also been supported more widely: one fifth of the members of the Scottish Parliament from all over Scotland and of all political parties, supported a motion on the importance of the building, the community asset and the need to secure its future with funding support.
‘We hope that both Historic Scotland and Creative Scotland will continue with their generous commitment towards our endeavours. We would also like to thank all our consultants for their unstinting help in providing all the information necessary for the HLF application.
‘One of the deficiencies in our application to HLF was the funding shortfall, so we urge everyone to keep helping us and joining in the various fundraising initiatives with which we shall be continuing.
‘We are urgently seeking a solution to keep the project alive, and all monies raised are being put safely away into an interest bearing account.
‘We do have some exciting events in the near future.
‘Firstly, nothing can stop the Centenary arriving on 26th May 2013! Furthermore, digital technology with 3D will definitely be installed early in the New Year. We appeal to everyone to keep coming to see the films, as this will help the business to survive. ‘
Next?
For Argyll has asked the Board if they can reapply?
There is every reason to go straight back to the Heritage Lottery Fund and ask for advice on how they can develop their proposal to improve its chances of approval.
Any serious funder, as this fund is, would have no reason to see its work as a ‘do or die’, once only space launch of an application process.
This unique building, this service and this initiative matter far too much to the quality of life in Campbeltown and to what it can offer to support the town in driving its own regeneration through a focused tourism development.
This is a campaign the entire town and its hinterland signs up to and the Heritage Lottery Fund will be aware of the importance to economic development, not just in KIntyre but in Argyll itself ,of the success of this enterprise.
Maybe apply to Mr Salmond and his 30 strong team who recently spent half a million on a jolly to the Ryder cup !
A great shame..
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It seems strange how some organisations seem to be able to achieve funding at the drop of a hat (e.g. Eilean Eisdeal)whereas other, perhaps more deserving causes, struggle to keep highly valued projects afloat.
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This beggars belief. The Picture House is every bit as historic as the Hippodrome, Bo’ness, and arguably a more valuable asset to a community more remote than any in Scotland from other cinemas. Yet the latter got millions from the lottery while the former gets a knock-back. Where is the sense? How can these people (HLF) be made to explain themselves?
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Could not agree more.
The project board should definitely ask for guidance on how they can make their proposal more approvable – this gives all concerned a second chance.
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As I understand it the HLF are usually very willing to discuss how to revise applications to increase eligibility; it exists to distribute cash, not keep it in the bank.
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