A blockbuster bid to bring a multiplex cinema to Crieff has been launched with organisers hoping it will be the catalyst for the town’s regeneration.
Creative Crieff, a new community group, want to open a boutique multi-screen cinema in the Perthshire town akin to the DCA in Dundee.
The new arts complex would consist of a cinema, bookstore, music shop, cafe and radio station as well as providing a hub and practice space for musicians and young people wanting to involve themselves in the arts.
Beth Bell, interim chief executive officer for Creative Crieff, said: “We basically want to have our own DCA which we know has been so successful and been a catalyst to the entire waterfront regeneration in Dundee.
“We believe our project will bring back a vibrancy and a buzz to the town centre.
“We not only want to bring more people to the town, we also want to give them a further reason to visit which in turn will be a boost for local businesses.
“Our main focus is on young people as we see a gap in the provision of services for youths and young adults as school budgets are squeezed further.”
Beth explained that the new venture would have the ability to screen newly released blockbuster movies in the Perthshire town which are currently unavailable due to licensing rights that demand multiple showings.
She said: “Creative Crieff is not trying to replace or displace any of the great charities and organisations we already have operating in the town at the moment like the Strathearn Artspace or the film club at the Strathearn Campus.
“Rather we are trying to offer the community the ability to have access to new release films and live performance experiences for which folks would otherwise have to travel to Perth or Stirling to enjoy.
“We also think that those funds spent outside our community would be better invested into a community organisation like ourselves where all the profits will go back into outreach programmes like the Community Radio Station or providing music practise spaces or instruments which are often barriers to entry for people wanting to take part in music.”
The group are currently looking a multiple locations within Crieff and have received support through the Regional Screens Scotland ‘Cinema Near You’ fund’.
Beth’s daughter Siobhan Bell, 17, also a member of Creative Crieff, currently travels to Perth for theatre and music.
She said: “It will be fantastic to have programmes closer to home for people my age.
“Having a safe space to have fun, away from the pressures of home life and school is really important.”
