The group behind Kelty Community Cinema has aspirations of transforming a former local hub into an arts centre.
Led by postie and movie buff Wayne Hayles, 43, the group is canvassing opinion on taking over the Moray Institute in Main Street, which is currently on the market for offers in the region of £135,000.
Set up in 2016, the community cinema has been screening blockbusters at affordable prices from community buildings so families can enjoy the cinema experience without having to travel to a multiplex.
It was recently awarded £9,138 from Screen Scotland towards the purchase of new equipment, which will provide a new projector and surround sound system.
And Wayne has an ambitious vision for setting up a permanent home for the cinema at Moray Institute.
“We’re just trying to collate opinions to see whether there would be a demand for it,” he said.
“What we’d like to do is create a whole arts hub. The building has four to five huge rooms and one of them would be perfect as a cinema. The other four could be for other arts projects.”
Wayne said one of the aims of the project would be getting children involved in the arts.
“If children are able to appreciate art and see art as a form of self-expression, that could tackle a lot of problems.”
The group is currently gathering local opinion in a poll which can be accessed via www.surveymonkey.co.uk.
They have asked people to rate the current venue at Kelty and Blairadam Ex-Servicemen’s Club and asked if the Moray Institute would be a “viable option” for the cinema, in addition to canvassing local people on a potential arts hub.
This year’s programme of events at the community cinema is being supported by the National Lottery Community Fund. Among the forthcoming screenings are Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Joker.
Wayne said the catalyst for the project was an expensive trip to the cinema.
“That’s the reason that I really started it up, to help families that just couldn’t afford to take the whole family to the cinema,” he said.
“I went to take my children to Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I took the whole family and it cost us almost £60.
“There are five or six volunteers who help out. Obviously, it wouldn’t be possible at all without their help.
“We try to cater for a wide demographic, including older people, with films like The Wizard of Oz and Singin’ in the Rain.”
The poll can be accessed here.
