Bid to halt the final cut for heritage cinemas

This article indicates how incredibly lucky Kytherian-Australians and Greek-Australians are to have a fully established Cinema, Cafe, and Museum, at the Roxy Complex, Bingara. This is a permanent memorial to all Kytherian-Australians and Greek-Australians who worked in that industry, and unlike the theatres mentioned below is under NO threat of 'extinction'. Follow links to learn more about the Roxy complex, at the end of this article.

Sydney Morning Herald

March 8, 2011

Kelsey Munro

URBAN AFFAIRS

Photo: Robert Pollock, a member of the group that oversees the running of Dungog Cinema, in the James Theatre. Photographer: Linda Wales

The National Trust wants film subsidies to be diverted from Australian filmmakers to prop up struggling heritage cinemas, which are mostly run on a shoestring by independent operators.

With about 20 surviving historic cinemas in NSW, the trust says government investment is needed to keep them alive, with most lacking the funds to convert to digital technology or carry out vital restoration works.

Graham Quint, the trust's advocacy manager, said that taxpayers' money is invested in projects that may see cinema release, while niche cinemas that could provide that outlet are neglected.

''The concern we've had is there's funding going to the production of Australian movies but so often they don't even get a cinema release because the big chain cinemas aren't prepared to put in an Australian movie unless it's Animal Kingdom or something of that magnitude,'' Mr Quint said. ''It's a crazy thing to have taxpayers' money going into those films but then not have a few cinemas, particularly small or arthouse ones, where they can be shown.''

A spokeswoman for the NSW Arts Minister, Virginia Judge, confirmed that the government is looking into the feasibility of subsidies for historic cinemas, although no decision has been made.

Mark Sarfaty, the head of the Independent Cinemas Association of Australia, welcomed the idea of government support for heritage cinemas.

''A great example is Dungog Cinema which services a small rural community but is at the moment under threat of having to close because it can't afford the expense of transition to digital screening technologies,'' he said. ''Everybody has to go through that process, but it is significantly harder for heritage cinemas - especially single screen - to make that transition.

''Cinemas in regional communities where the original 1930s building is still standing in particular need support.''

The National Trust said cinemas including the Randwick Ritz, Collaroy Cinema, the Cremorne Hayden Orpheum and the Leeton Roxy near Griffith in the state's south west ''represent an integral part of Australia's rich art deco legacy''.

Many historic cinemas are still operating but others, such as Parramatta's Roxy or Newtown's Hub theatre, are intact but closed.

The trust's new push to rescue heritage cinemas comes with the release yesterday of the organisation's 2011 Advocacy Agenda, which points out the need to recognise more recent heritage.

''Heritage did not end in 1901,'' the document says, pushing for broader recognition of significant 20th century buildings.

The trust also slammed the state government's changes to heritage laws which let owners plead financial hardship in order to have a property removed from the State Heritage Register.

A coalmining company has sought to delist Wambo Homestead in the Hunter Valley on the grounds that retaining the buildings would cause undue financial hardship.

Roxy Complex links:

Roxy Website Main Page

Roxy Theatre, Main Page

Roxy Café, Main Page

Roxy Museum, Main Page

Katsehamos and the Great Idea, the Book

Restoration of Kytherian and Hellenic Sacred sites

Buffer Map of the distances from Bingara to major cities of Kytherian and Hellenic population