Forum Cinema fundraiser success
Town rallies round its Art Deco cinema as fundraising campaign smashes its target. Tony Henderson reports
An Art Deco cinema has staged thousands of shows in its 88-year history.
But the latest show – of support – has delighted the Forum community cinema in Hexham in Northumberland.
A six-week Lights! Curtains! Action! fundraising campaign run by the Forum Cinema Supporters Association has exceeded its original target of £25,000 to restore, repair or replace time-worn wall drapes and lights, and the screen curtain. within the auditorium.
More than 300 donations to the fund saw an extra £5,000 flow in.
Association chair Clare Lindsay said: “We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has so generously donated. Over 300 individual donors, plus local businesses, charitable trusts and foundations have helped us achieve our target.”
Cinema manager Clare Mwande who is overseeing the renovation and restoration operation, said: “We are looking to restoring the Art Deco magic to our auditorium and welcoming our guests to a very special experience where a visit to the cinema is as much of the enjoyment as the film. We are particularly grateful to our Friends of the Forum for giving so generously.”
“We are both ecstatic and flabbergasted at how many people got behind the campaign and donated generously.
“There was an outpouring of affection for the cinema and it was great to feel it and hear so many wonderful comments.
“It shows how important and special the cinema is to people and how important it is to local businesses as well.
“When the work is complete it is going to look fabulous and the cinema will look more like it did when it opened in 1937.”
The appeal was launched with the film The Smallest Show on Earth attended by a sell-out audience and raised over £30,000 within two months. The extra funds raised above the target will allow other work within the cinema auditorium such as work on the Art Deco ceiling lights to be examined.
At its opening the Forum Cinema was promoted as ‘Hexham’s New Wonder Theatre’ and was described as a Modern Theatre De Luxe’ with ‘Gorgeous Auditorium Lighting’ and ‘Handsome Curtains’.
“Time has taken its toll, and these features are in serious need of repair and conservation,” said Clare.
The campaign has been backed by actor Kevin Whately who said: “When I was growing up in Hexham in the Fifties and Sixties a visit to the Forum cinema was a real treat - a beautiful art deco building and the only place you could see a film for miles around unless you went to Newcastle.”
“It is an independent community cinema and is massively valued in Hexham. Culturally it is important to the town and well loved,” said the association’s Tim Crump.
“It is as much a part of Hexham’s heritage as its historic buildings and we want to bring the art deco magic back to the cinema. “