$180,000 for Eastern Suburbs cinemas
Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs is well-known for a thriving artistic culture and the Federal Government has committed to keeping the projectors rolling at the independent cinemas in the Wentworth electorate.
Dave Sharma outside the Chauvel Cinema
$180,000 in grants have been committed to three independent cinemas across the electorate. This financial support is part of the Federal Government’s $20 million Supporting Cinemas’ Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods (SCREEN) Fund.
Independent cinemas have suffered greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing and other restrictions have led to significant declines in revenue.
Wentworth MP Dave Sharma said: “The Ritz Cinema in Randwick and the Chauvel and Verona cinemas in Paddington are not only treasured by locals, but they are also part of the fabric of the arts community in the eastern suburbs. Which is why I am pleased to announce that they have been approved of grants totalling $180,000 as part of the Federal Government’s $20 million SCREEN Fund” Dave Sharma MP said.
These three cinemas are a few of the 158 cinemas that are supported through the SCREEN Fund. It helps ensure independent cinemas like the Ritz, Chauvel and Verona can continue to provide popular, low-cost, and COVID-safe entertainment for the community.
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. The Ritz received $85,000, the Chauvel $$35,000 and the Verona $60,000. The Federal Government seeks to acknowledge the economic and social importance of the national cultural and creative sector by investing more than $1 billion into the arts across 2021-22.
If your local independent cinema has not yet received financial support through this fund, please encourage them to apply. SCREEN Fund applications are open until 24 December 2021 or until the total funds are committed. For more information on the SCREEN Fund, visit: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/funding-and-support/covid-19-support/screen-fund
