Dalry is a small rural village of around 400 folk in the South West of Scotland. Whilst not remote, there is some distance to go on a winter’s night to find the nearest cinema - so many people, particularly the elderly, just don’t go.
Dalry is a small rural village of around 400 folk in the South West of Scotland. Whilst not remote, there is some distance to go on a winter’s night to find the nearest cinema - so many people, particularly the elderly, just don’t go.
What the Innovation Fund allowed us to do is to own our own equipment thereby taking some of the financial uncertainty out of running a Film Club in an area with a small population base. We now have a 5.1 surround audio system in place within our Town Hall and show films fortnightly. For most people the Hall is within walking distance of home.
Dalry audience settles down to watch “Edie”
What the Innovation Fund allowed us to do is to own our own equipment thereby taking some of the financial uncertainty out of running a Film Club in an area with a small population base. We now have a 5.1 surround audio system in place within our Town Hall and show films fortnightly. For most people the Hall is within walking distance of home.
Since receiving the award 18 months ago we have augmented our service by progressively adding to audience comfort. We have added blinds to our Town Hall to extent our season into June; door curtains to retain heat and we provide personal hearing enhancers to folks who find some speech indistinct. Most recently we have moved our surround speakers to roof level to make setting up easier.
As well as simple (?) film shows we have also run sponsored Charity Shows to support favoured Charities and a Birthday party with film.
None of this would have been nearly as sustainable without the Innovation Fund.
Rather than being competitive we have built a strong relationship with our local Arts Centre (Catstrand) and they support us with licensing and publicity. The relationship is sufficiently robust that there is discussion of our running live events in our Hall using the Film Club as a model.
None of this would have been nearly as sustainable without the Innovation Fund. It has allowed us to think of how we can continue to improve (and innovate) our provision rather than just to keep it going.
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