The idea
Liverpool Lighthouse is a community hub for North Liverpool, a place where families, younger & older generations get together to take part in events & activities to help reduce isolation & engage them within the arts. Liverpool Lighthouse is home to a 430 seated auditorium where shows take place & was once ‘Gaumont Palace’ cinema when it opened in 1931. North Liverpool is calling out for this community cinema to be brought back to life. We want to purchase & install a 10 metre Cine Pro electrical screen & are asking the community to help. Whilst raising funds for this, we’ll also be looking for support through other means to raise funds to install the projector, ceiling mount & truss. We’ll be giving the venue that extra vintage feel back by adding to the deco that has remained preserved, such as putting the historical box office back into use and installing retro popcorn makers. Once we have raised funds for all areas of this project we will be a community film hub for everyone!
What we'll deliver
- Purchase 10m Cine Pro Screen
- Hiring contractor to deliver Cine Pro screen in an articulated truck
- Installation of a 10m Cine Pro within the 430 seated auditorium
- Installation costs to be used for projector, mount & truss (equipment cost will not come by crowdfunding)
- At least a further 5 job opportunities
- Delivering at least 35 screenings per year from much loved classics to independent films
- The auditorium being available to hire for all including this equipment from local schools to touring shows
Why it's a great idea
Now more than ever this is a great opportunity to rekindle community film and bring the older and younger generation together again in 2021, once COVID-19 is no longer at the forefront of our lives. We will be helping to unite people once more, develop social skills, relieve stress and anxiety and help in the forming of new kinships too. Our area of Anfield & Everton within North Liverpool are not just economically but culturally classified deprived. Since 2004, we have developed several projects that engage with thousands of people every year. Over the years we have been visited by hundreds of people who have talked fondly about watching movies in our venue when they were children. Speaking among families we work with have confirmed a real appetite for our proposal particularly as there’s no cinemas nearby,
“I was born in 1948 and grew up around here. I have many fond and happy memories of Liverpool Lighthouse being a picture house, I look forward to it reopening as a cinema" Brenda
Steps to get it done
- Purchasing the 10m Cine Pro screen
- Cine Pro screen delivered within an articulated truck & installed
- Contracting company to install projector and further equipment (equipment cost will not come from crowdfunding)
- Updating front of house facilities
- Create marketing plans and timeline for shows
- Employ additional staff and recruit volunteers for screenings
- Promote new activities
In an area that is both economically and culturally classified deprived, supporting such a project will result in creation of jobs and volunteering opportunities for community. Self-assurance will be booted through these, encouraging our volunteers and staff to venture outside our community to seek similar employment roles in the city centre venues, bringing confidence, wealth and further engagement into our community.
