Keep the Phoenix Cinema independent
Donation protected
UPDATE: Regarding your donation: making the Phoenix rise again
Dear donor,
Once again, we’d like to extend our thanks to you for your donation to the Save the Phoenix. Last month, the Board of Trustees announced that they would pause the planned deal to allow Curzon to take over commercial operation of the cinema. As we said at the time, the funds raised through this campaign were intended to support the cinema’s independence, and as such we wouldn’t release them until we had tangible assurances from the cinema that they were committed to an independent future.
Over the past month we have been working with the cinema towards that goal, meeting with members of the Board and staff to plan a new campaign, backed by the cinema, to raise the £50,000 needed to allow the cinema to remain independent. We understand that many people feel there has been little action since the pause was announced and no changes have been made, but much work has been done behind the scenes. We recognise that the cinema is under large financial strain and needs a significant amount of money to remain solvent. Whilst the cinema cannot guarantee 100% that it will remain independent into the future, we now believe that they are committed to doing all they can to ensure that it remains so.
We have come to the conclusion that given that the alternative would be issuing refunds to all donors, we believe the best course of action is to donate the funds to the cinema to support a renewed fundraising drive. This will be a large scale, public fundraising campaign that will seek to secure the cinema’s long term independence. Funds from the campaign will in part be used to invest in this campaign to ensure it has a good reach. Save the Phoenix are now on the newly formed Fundraising Committee, set up with the same aims as our campaign, to raise enough money to keep the cinema independent. We are confident that by working together we can achieve our goal and see that the cinema remains independent long into the future.
ABOUT YOUR DONATION: We strongly feel that this is the best way to help the cinema and we hope that you will agree with us. Our collective donation will go to the new fundraising campaign about to be launched by the cinema, and will make up 10% of their total goal. However, given that the campaign was set up with the specific aim of keeping the cinema independent, and this cannot be guaranteed with all certainty, we will offer refunds to those who are not happy with this course of action. If you are happy for your donation to go to the cinema to be used to support a renewed, larger, long-term fundraising campaign you don’t have to do anything. If you are not happy to support the cinema and would like a refund please email [email redacted] no later than 1 January with your name, the amount you gave and the date you donated.
MORE INFORMATION: Scroll down for a statement from the cinema regarding the proposed campaign merger, further information about proposed fundraising activity and the testimony of a former Board member who is now on the Fundraising Committee.
The new fundraising drive will launch very soon. In the meantime, you can support the cinema by visiting often and telling others to do so!
Thank you for your continued support,
Save the Phoenix
#phoenixrises
--
We have been working with the cinema on the following actions:
• Immediate and ongoing fundraising campaign including a publicity drive, Christmas events and online and in person donations
• Developing plans for Phase 2 of the campaign to celebrate 2020, the 35th anniversary of Phoenix independence
• Reaching out to funds and trust for immediate and long tern plans for community and education work and improving the building
• Investigation into the possibility of opening a second screen
• Creating a number of special events in partnership with the film industry.
--
Statement from Margaret O’Brien, Trustee, Phoenix Cinema:
‘We thank the public for the support they have shown the cinema during this difficult time, and we are heartened by the money given to this campaign. We have been working with Save the Phoenix to put the money to good use and fully intend to raise the money required to continue independently.
We recognise the strength of feeling about the cinema and we are committed to an independent future if we are able to remain financially solvent. We want to put all our efforts behind a new campaign and hope that you are happy to support us to do so.’
Gareth Brown, ex- Trustee, Phoenix Cinema:
‘As a Board member up to the centenary in 2010, I was deeply concerned and vocal over the risk of The Phoenix losing its independence. Having met with key Board members, staff and other members of the newly formed fundraising committee, I am entirely convinced that every effort is now being put by all concerned into ensuring that the cinema retains its independence for years to come. As a donator to ‘Save The Phoenix’ I strongly recommend and encourage that this funding is directed to the cinema to continue this momentum.’
Dear donor,
Once again, we’d like to extend our thanks to you for your donation to the Save the Phoenix. Last month, the Board of Trustees announced that they would pause the planned deal to allow Curzon to take over commercial operation of the cinema. As we said at the time, the funds raised through this campaign were intended to support the cinema’s independence, and as such we wouldn’t release them until we had tangible assurances from the cinema that they were committed to an independent future.
Over the past month we have been working with the cinema towards that goal, meeting with members of the Board and staff to plan a new campaign, backed by the cinema, to raise the £50,000 needed to allow the cinema to remain independent. We understand that many people feel there has been little action since the pause was announced and no changes have been made, but much work has been done behind the scenes. We recognise that the cinema is under large financial strain and needs a significant amount of money to remain solvent. Whilst the cinema cannot guarantee 100% that it will remain independent into the future, we now believe that they are committed to doing all they can to ensure that it remains so.
We have come to the conclusion that given that the alternative would be issuing refunds to all donors, we believe the best course of action is to donate the funds to the cinema to support a renewed fundraising drive. This will be a large scale, public fundraising campaign that will seek to secure the cinema’s long term independence. Funds from the campaign will in part be used to invest in this campaign to ensure it has a good reach. Save the Phoenix are now on the newly formed Fundraising Committee, set up with the same aims as our campaign, to raise enough money to keep the cinema independent. We are confident that by working together we can achieve our goal and see that the cinema remains independent long into the future.
ABOUT YOUR DONATION: We strongly feel that this is the best way to help the cinema and we hope that you will agree with us. Our collective donation will go to the new fundraising campaign about to be launched by the cinema, and will make up 10% of their total goal. However, given that the campaign was set up with the specific aim of keeping the cinema independent, and this cannot be guaranteed with all certainty, we will offer refunds to those who are not happy with this course of action. If you are happy for your donation to go to the cinema to be used to support a renewed, larger, long-term fundraising campaign you don’t have to do anything. If you are not happy to support the cinema and would like a refund please email [email redacted] no later than 1 January with your name, the amount you gave and the date you donated.
MORE INFORMATION: Scroll down for a statement from the cinema regarding the proposed campaign merger, further information about proposed fundraising activity and the testimony of a former Board member who is now on the Fundraising Committee.
The new fundraising drive will launch very soon. In the meantime, you can support the cinema by visiting often and telling others to do so!
Thank you for your continued support,
Save the Phoenix
#phoenixrises
--
We have been working with the cinema on the following actions:
• Immediate and ongoing fundraising campaign including a publicity drive, Christmas events and online and in person donations
• Developing plans for Phase 2 of the campaign to celebrate 2020, the 35th anniversary of Phoenix independence
• Reaching out to funds and trust for immediate and long tern plans for community and education work and improving the building
• Investigation into the possibility of opening a second screen
• Creating a number of special events in partnership with the film industry.
--
Statement from Margaret O’Brien, Trustee, Phoenix Cinema:
‘We thank the public for the support they have shown the cinema during this difficult time, and we are heartened by the money given to this campaign. We have been working with Save the Phoenix to put the money to good use and fully intend to raise the money required to continue independently.
We recognise the strength of feeling about the cinema and we are committed to an independent future if we are able to remain financially solvent. We want to put all our efforts behind a new campaign and hope that you are happy to support us to do so.’
Gareth Brown, ex- Trustee, Phoenix Cinema:
‘As a Board member up to the centenary in 2010, I was deeply concerned and vocal over the risk of The Phoenix losing its independence. Having met with key Board members, staff and other members of the newly formed fundraising committee, I am entirely convinced that every effort is now being put by all concerned into ensuring that the cinema retains its independence for years to come. As a donator to ‘Save The Phoenix’ I strongly recommend and encourage that this funding is directed to the cinema to continue this momentum.’
Organizer
Save the Phoenix
Organizer
England