Sherborne Cinema in Gloucester has been awarded an £8,940 grant from the British Film Institute, on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
The funding, which is part of the government’s Culture Recovery Fund, is designed to help independent cinemas across the UK survive the Coronavirus pandemic.
Owner and manager of Sherborne Cinema, Mark Cunningham, said: ‘We have been awarded a grant of nearly £9,000 to make the cinema Covid-compliant, with improved ventilation, online booking and a fogging machine to disinfect the auditorium between screenings.
‘As a result of this award, we now hope to re-open in December – and look forward to welcoming back our loyal customers in a safe way after the long shutdown.’
Culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: ‘We all enjoyed the escapism of a good film during lockdown, but nothing beats the experience of the big screen.
‘This first wave of emergency funding will help dozens of independent cinemas around the country, preserving their unique character and history for future generations.’
Independent cinemas have until Friday 30 October 2020 to apply to the BFI for a share of the funding.
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