CALSTOCK Arts has received a cash boost from Cornwall Council to support its new community cinema.

Cornwall Council has awarded a series of grants to support cultural organisations and venues across Cornwall, from the council’s HALLS for Cornwall grant programme, which was set up to make local venues more comfortable for audiences and help them to attract high quality programming and reduce their overhead costs and increase their earned income while the Hall for Cornwall in Truro is closed for major building works.

Calstock Arts received a grant for £2,378 and has been match-funded by the venue itself.

Tony Couchman from Calstock Arts said: ‘It is to be used to purchase a sound system and screen for Calstock Film. We set up Calstock Film last October as a community cinema and part of the CFylm scheme run by Carn to Cove. We put on two films each month in the Old Chapel in Calstock. At present we use our main auditorium for screenings. However, because of its very large windows, we cannot black it out for films in the spring and summer months. The grant will enable us to use another room which can be blacked out more easily.’

Welcoming the grant awards, Julian German, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for economy and culture, said: ‘I am thrilled to see venues in communities across Cornwall supported through this scheme. Many of our smaller venues are supported by loyal teams of volunteers and I would like to thank them for their dedication in bringing great quality performing arts to our villages and towns for all to enjoy.’