Public Servant Lifestyle

A new mobile cinema is to visit remote parts of the south of Scotland thanks to £500,000 worth of funding from the Scottish Executive.

The Screen Machine - to be purchased by Scottish Screen - will join the two existing mobile cinemas currently deployed in the Highlands and Islands. It will visit areas in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway which have little or no cinema provision and will be in operation by 2009.

The digitally equipped, state of the art travelling cinema is expected to entertain crowds of up to 100 people per show.

Screen Machines

The two existing Screen Machines have proved to be extremely popular, with more than half of their seats filled during every performance, compared with an industry average of just 20%. As well as regularly entertaining communities in the Highlands and Islands, these two machines have also been used at festivals such as the Celtic Film & Television Festival and the Borders Film Festival.

Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said: "Film is the most popular art form of the 21st century, and has been for much of the last century. Despite the huge increase in home entertainment, going to the cinema continues to be a popular participatory and social arts activity.

"I am delighted that this extra funding will increase access to the cinema experience for communities which are not within easy reach of traditional cinemas. Our aim is to encourage and facilitate the widest possible participation in cultural life, which will bring real benefits to communities and individuals, and inspire their own creativity."

Ken Hay, the Chief Executive of Scottish Screen, said: "Screen Machines one and two have proved a great success in taking films to people in our most remote communities.

"We have been campaigning for this to be extended to the south of Scotland and are delighted that the Scottish Executive has agreed to fund a third Screen Machine. This will help to ensure that more people have greater access to the cinema experience, regardless of where they live."

Exhibition Strategy

The purchase of the new screen machine is part of Scottish Screen's wider cinema exhibition strategy. Scottish Screen's role is in promoting Scotland as a production centre for world movie making. The organisation is answerable to the Scottish Executive.

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