Due to diminishing audiences and membership, it is with regret the Rye Community Centre Association Film Club has taken the difficult decision to cease showing monthly films. This will come into effect after the showing of the final film on Friday September 2. It has a full programme of monthly films until this date.
The surplus revenue generated hitherto has been a contribution supporting the running of the Community Centre. It is the Committee’s intention that the Film Club will continue in a different format, giving us the possibility of showing niche films, running special events and joint ventures with other organisations.
This we hope will generate more funds to support the Community Centre which, after all, was always our raison d’être.
The most loyal members will be offered the return of their unused membership or they may consider a donation of these amounts to the Community Centre.
The Film Club would like to thank everyone who supported it over the years.
COMMENT
It was always perhaps inevitable that the Film Club would suffer severely from the arrival of the Kino in Rye last year, writes Kenneth Bird. The committee has struggled valiantly in that time to remain competitive by reducing its cost base, the expense of hiring in films, whilst maintaining the quality of the film shows.
Since its first performance of Brassed Off on May 5 1998, the Club has contributed significantly to the social and cultural life of the town. It has also raised and donated many thousands of pounds towards the running of Rye Community Centre Association on Conduit Hill. In its heyday, audiences of well over 100 members thronged to see the show and enjoy the social atmosphere over a glass of wine.
Of the original founders eighteen years ago, David Willison as projectionist, Geoff Boudreau as film procurer, Kenneth Bird as treasurer and John Izod indefatigably as himself, only Geoff has stayed the course. We wish the committee well in its plans to diversify into niche films and seek partnerships with other organisations.
