A community buy out of the beloved Tower Cinema and Live Arts venue, situated in the heart of Helensburgh, to re-establish the provision of film and live music within this wonderful community hub.
Estimated Price
350000
1. What do you want to do?
Our Community Cinema and Arts Centre is located within a prominent historical (B-listed) building in the heart of our town. The building was originally Saint Columba’s Church, built in 1861. Its previous operator announced plans to close in 2023 and without community action, Helensburgh risks losing its cinema, in which case the building could fall into disrepair. Our planned buy-out and redevelopment will ensure we establish it as a self-sustaining, well-loved hub for the people of the area.
The Venue at St Columba ltd is not-for-profit and controlled by the local community as voting members. Member recruitment began in October 2024 and have achieved charitable status. Our business plan will establish the Venue as a viable business model, with a robust, structured management plan ensuring its ongoing success. The current Steering Group ran a successful trial period in 2023-24, achieving footfall of over 27000, increased customer spend and held multiple sold-out live events. We plan to build on this under community ownership by developing new income streams such as screen and studio hire alongside events programming. The Venue will sustain at least four permanent jobs, and will support local high street businesses by bringing people to the town centre in the evening.
We feel very strongly that in providing a location for the community to experience live cinema and events, we save many hundreds of journeys to facilities in Glasgow and beyond. We will also establish sustainability management plans to ensure the Tower is focussed on its impact to the environment and its social responsibility in improving awareness and engagement in this area.
2. Why is your project needed?
The Tower Cinema has established very strong support within the community of Helensburgh and surrounding towns and villages. A number of charities and community groups (Enable Scotland; Autism Scotland; Helensburgh & Lomond Carers; Jean's Bothy) had well established arrangements with the cinema including weekly screenings - all these groups have expressed how much of a loss the closure of the cinema has been.
The cinema was well attended for other scheduling screenings during our trial period, and our varied programme from Blockbusters to Film Festivals and National Theatre live streams ensured we supported a very broad range of the residents of the wider area. We have extensive feedback from younger members of the community, with a clear recognition of the need for a Cinema as a social rendezvous and affordable entertainment option for the area’s youth – with a film programme tailored to appeal to the full spectrum of demographics. The elderly community was also supported with a very well attended bi-weekly "Silver Screen" event, providing a social event for over 65s to engage with their friends over tea, sandwiches and a latest release movie showing.
The live performance space has also previously provided a venue for live bands, arts events, talks and ballet. Upon re-opening, this programme will expand and increase - providing a space for local bands, groups and clubs to perform in front of keen and engaged local audiences.
Bringing the facility into community ownership and re-establishing these invaluable services and provisions will be a huge benefit to this very broad range of users and customers.
3. What positive changes will your project bring about?
Provision of a safe, comfortable environment for younger and more vulnerable members and groups within our community is a key goal of our enterprise, and we know from our feedback that the facilities provided previously are being sorely missed.
We also know that having a dedicated venue for provision of cinema and arts events within Helensburgh is very beneficial, allowing access to an affordable entertainment programme within our local community. Without this local provision a large number of people would be unable to make the journey to alternative provisions, which require train or car travel. We are also aware that allowing people to avoid such journeys increases the sustainability of arts provision to the Helensburgh area.
4. How long will your project run for?
The project is targeting completing the buy-out by Q4 2025, allowing the venue to reopen soon after that. A broad, varied programme of films and events will be established, satisfying the demand of the community and the wider regional area. The funding requirements will be initially to support the buy-out and start up, covering our initial 12months of operation. The project has already secured £240,000 grant from the Scottish Land Fund, and is continuing our successful fundraising events which have secured sufficient income to allow us to progress toward purchase of the building - however further funding is required to support the start-up.
