The cultural and economic trends of Cinema in and

Acknowledgements

This audit of cinemas in Ireland and Wales was commissioned by Sgrîn Cymru Wales and the Arts Council. The study was financially supported by the Ireland/Wales Interreg IIIA Community Initiative Programme: ERDF 2000–2006.

Throughout the study we have been fortunate to benefit from the knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment of Rhian Iolo (Exhibition Manager, Sgrîn) and Siobhan Bourke (Film Adviser, Arts Council). Additional invaluable assistance was provided by Stephanie O’Callaghan, Michelle Hoctor, Antoinette O’Neill, and the staff at both Sgrîn and the Arts Council of Ireland.

This study would not have been possible without the generous contribution of time, expertise and information from the many cinema owners, managers, projection and customer services staff we met during the study. Our thanks are also due to the individuals and organisations contacted for comment and information during the research. Our sincere thanks are due to each and every one.

The views expressed in this report are those of the authors. Unless specifically attributed, they do not represent the views of Sgrîn, the Arts Council, nor those of any persons or organisations who have been consulted in the course of the study.

J Ron Inglis & Sue Todd April 2004

Inglis Todd Consultants is an independent arts and media J Ron Inglis MA MBA consultancy operating throughout the UK and Ireland. J Ron Tel: +44 1334 477259 Fax: +44 1334 477259 Inglis and Sue Todd - are among the UK’s leading consultants in Email: [email protected] arts and media development, especially in cinema exhibition. They have worked with a wide range of cinemas, exhibitors Sue Todd BA and funding and policy organisations across the UK and Ireland. Tel: +44 161 860 7712 Fax: +44 161 718 5196 Their work includes organisational and business development Email: [email protected] with cinemas, festival and exhibition research, feasibility and capital development as well as market analysis and strategic planning. Their clients have included the UK Film Council, British Film Institute, The Arts Council (Ireland), Sgrîn Cymru Wales, and Scottish Screen as well as many local authorities and cinema and media organisations.

The cultural and economic trends in Cinema in Ireland & Wales 1 Contents

Preface 4 3.6 Transport issues 36 Executive Summary 3.7 Irish National Spatial Strategy 37 English 6-11 3.8 Welsh Spatial Strategy 37 Irish 12-17 4 Site and building 40 1 Introduction 18 4.1 Building history 40 1.1 Aims of the study 18 4.2 Facilities 41 1.2 Methodology 18 4.3 Disability access 43 1.3 Cinema visits 19 4.4 Architectural quality 43 1.4 Key trends 21 4.5 Building condition 44 1.5 Structure of the report 23 4.6 Technical matters 45

2 Context 24 5 Operation 47 2.1 Current situation 24 5.1 Staffing 47 2.2 Cinema provision overview 24 5.2 Marketing 48 2.3 National overview 26 5.3 Ticket pricing 49 2.4 The past decade 26 5.4 Annual admissions 51 2.5 Sector structure 26 2.6 Ownership 29 6 Programme 52 2.7 Circuit operators 30 6.1 Programme style 52 2.8 Public funding 30 6.2 Extending the programme 53 6.3 Mobile cinemas 54 3 Location 32 6.4 Film Societies 55 3.1 Geographical distribution 32 6.5 Film Festivals 56 3.2 Town type 32 6.6 Irish and Welsh Programming 58 3.3 Cinema location 33 6.7 Education & programme enhancement 58 3.4 Catchment population 34 6.8 Cultural importance of the cinemas 60 3.5 Town size 34

2 Inglis Todd Consultants, April 2004 7 SWOT & Impacts 62 13 Overview and Opportunities - 81 7.1 Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities 13.1 Issues from audit of cinemas in Ireland 81 and threats 62 13.2 Issues from audit of cinemas in Wales 82 7.2 Impacts made by the cinema 63 13.3 Issues from audit of cinemas in both Ireland and Wales 83 8 Gaps in provision 64 13.4 What can be learned from each other? 84 8.1 Access to public cinema 64 13.5 If there