Picture House to close after less than a year (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Picture House to close after less than a year

12:23pm Friday 22nd August 2008

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LEYBURN'S Picture House will close on October 31 after less than one year of being run by volunteers.

At a meeting for volunteers at the Picture House on Monday, one of the directors, Dawn Clarkson, explained that they had averaged 52 people per night at a film showing since the cinema reopened on December 27 last year.

This, with the fundraising events, would be sufficient for Leyburn Arts Centre Ltd to break even, but not to cover additional costs under the tenyear lease which had been signed with the owners of the building, Geoff and Jude Simpson.

The Simpsons had given a discount on the rent for the first year and had not charged anything for equipment and fixtures.

This included the projection equipment, which has been well-maintained by volunteers during the year.

In a press statement this week, Leyburn Arts Centre stated it was not prudent to continue with the terms of the lease and that it was now looking for alternative venues and ideas to promote the arts and put on arts events, including film screenings, in Leyburn.

The volunteers heard on Monday that this could include a film club and that some dates had already been booked at Thornborough Hall.

John Kiberd, the arts director, explained: "We are handing back the premises due to increasing costs in the second year and all the liabilities that we would be committing ourselves to. The decision has not been taken lightly but after a lot of advice."

He added that they had tried to tell all their supporters and volunteers before a public statement was issued.

"It is ironic that, when talking about closure, we have our busiest time - only one Sunday is not booked until the end of October," he said.

This includes a talk by Kate Adie on September 7, a concert by the Wrong Elephant on September 14 and A Tribute to Elvis on September 28.

There are also several art exhibitions in Flicks café bar and Mr Kiberd asked for volunteers to help with this busy programme.

In the press statement the directors said: "The Picture House has been successful in attracting a consistent level of film viewing public, providing a venue for exhibitions and events, and receiving local support for income generating activities and sponsorship.

"All of this has been possible due to local financial donations and the critical involvement of a dedicated team of volunteers.

They have been generous with their time and contribution, often learning new skills and sacrificing personal commitments.

This has ensured that the Picture House has provided a professional and entertaining programme of films and artistic events for the people of Leyburn, surrounding areas and visitors to Wensleydale.

"We would like to thank all those people who have volunteered their time and resources to support the Leyburn Arts Centre over the last eight months and those people who have shown their backing by attending events and the cinema."

One volunteer said on Monday: "It is so sad after all the work that has gone into it. We have got it looking so smart."

Geoff Simpson told the D&S Times: "It is sad. The rent was not exorbitant. We enabled them to just walk in and start their business."

He and his wife ran the venue as the Elite for 12 years and he added: "When we first started, we had to subsidise it and work at it and we didn't have the Richmond Station cinema to contend with."

He added that even with 18,000 to 20,000 people a year attending film showings, they barely broke even after paying wages, the distributors and covering overheads.

In June, Leyburn Arts Centre warned that the cinema was unlikely to survive unless more people supported it by attending film showings.

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