SHOWBIZ Cinemas Swan Hill has been awarded $35,000 through the federal government’s Supporting Cinemas’ Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods (SCREEN) Fund.
Andrew Taylor, the director of Showbiz Cinemas, said the independent cinema chain was “extremely happy and appreciative” to receive the funding.
“We had worked very hard behind the scenes reorganising our business and pivoting during 2020, with Covid seeing us forced to close for almost nine months,” he said.
Mr Taylor said initiatives such as the Click & Collect Candy Bar sales, the Pop-Up Drive In, and the launch of the Showbiz Movies OnDemand streaming platform were how Showbiz Cinemas used innovation during that tough period.”This funding has certainly came at the right time, and will assist us greatly in preparing the cinema business for when we eventually re-open in summer,” Mr Taylor said.
“The lessons learnt from 2020 have helped us navigate two previous lockdowns, and now this current one.
“Cinemas such as ours play a vital role in the social fabric of a regional community and we aim to thrive, and still be there in the eventual post-pandemic world.”
Federal Member for Mallee, Anne Webster, announced the four other Mallee recipients of SCREEN Fund grants were Wallis Deakin Cinema in Mildura, the Maryborough Paramount theatre, Rex Theatre in Charlton, and The Centre Cinema in Horsham.
Dr Webster said up to $200,000 total in grants had been allocated to independent cinema sites in the region to “help during times of severe disruption”.
Administered by Screen Australia, the fund assists independent cinema operators who have experienced significant declines in revenue due to the pandemic, with one-off business continuity grants of up to $85,000.
SCREEN Fund applications are open until 24 December 2021 or until total funds are committed.
