You take over a cinema and face the tricky task of choosing a favourite film to screen for your guests. What would it be?
That’s what is on offer as part of a fundraising auction to help secure the future of the independent 1930s Forum Cinema in Hexham.
The Forum Cinema Supporters Association has put together 31 lots for the auction on Friday, November 13, which will raise money towards an accessible lift at the cinema and two projects aimed at bringing film to more people across the Tyne Valley.
The event will be hosted by Fred Wyrley-Birch, managing director of Newcastle auctioneers Anderson & Garland, with bidding starting at 6pm.
Among the lots is exclusive use of the 189-seat cinema at off-peak times, complete with a bar and the chance to choose the film.
“The winning bidder can tell us what film they want, invite friends and family and we will contact the distributors and see if we can get it. We can also sell tickets on the bidder’s behalf,” said cinema manager Clare Mwande.
“I think everyone has the desire to see a favourite film back on the big screen.
“The auction offers a fantastic chance to bid on a wide range of experiences, treats and gifts while helping to secure the future of one of the region’s best-loved independent cinemas.”
The money raised will also support the Forum’s annual Films For Everyone, Everywhere as part of the Tyne Valley Film Festival, which takes film into smaller and more remote Northumberland communities.
Another beneficiary will be Inspiring the Next Generation, a project which will provide entry two nights a month for a year for young people who would otherwise find it difficult to visit the cinema.
The lots have been donated by businesses and makers from Hexham and across Northumberland, with prizes including hotel stays at The County and The Beaumont in Hexham, a cottage break near Bamburgh, glamping on Hadrian’s Wall and a winter break in the Lake District.
Other lots range from afternoon tea at Langley Castle and dining experiences at local restaurants to a guided tour of Hadrian’s Wall, a dawn chorus experience with a picnic breakfast, an art workshop and a ring-making session. There’s also a Barbour jacket, beauty treatments and a selection of Christmas gifts and vouchers.
You can find a detailed list of lots here.
Fred Wyrley-Birch said: “I have lived in and around Hexham for a long time, so the Forum has always felt like part of the furniture of the town. It is a real pleasure to work for a cinema that means so much to the local community.
“If a lively night of bidding helps deliver an accessible lift and opens the doors a little wider for young people across the Tyne Valley, we will all have done something worth being proud of.”
The previous public appeal fundraiser by the cinema raised £35,000 to revitalise the auditorium, including replacing curtains and drapes and restoring the original ceiling and wall lights.
“The auditorium now has a lovely, opulent glow,” said Clare.
Tickets for the auction are free but need to be booked. To avoid the online processing fee, call at the cinema box office or ring 01434 601144.
